Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: TRANSCRIPT: Former Catholic Priest Matthew Fox on Ratzinger, Opus Dei & The Broken Catholic Church [View all]Segami
(14,923 posts)42. Types of membership of Opus Dei
Cooperators
The Cooperators of Opus Dei are those who, though not considered members by Opus Dei, collaborate in some way with Opus Deiusually through praying, charitable contributions, or by providing some other assistance. Cooperators are not required to be celibate or to adhere to any other special requirements. Indeed, cooperators are not even required to be Christian.[5]
Cooperators may attend the educational and training activities provided by the Opus Dei. Many cooperators are relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors of the members of Opus Dei.[citation needed] Religious communities as a whole can also become cooperators of Opus Dei. There are currently number several hundred of these communities who pray for Opus Dei daily.[citation needed]
Supernumeraries
Supernumeraries, the largest type, currently account for about 70% of the total membership.[1] The term "supernumerary" is a civil designation for an additional member of a society, for example professors, judges, actors, etc.
Typically, the supernumeraries of the Opus Dei prelature are married men and women who have secular careers and lead traditional family lives. Supernumeraries often devote a portion of their day to prayer, in addition to attending regular meetings and taking part in activities such as retreats. Due to their career and family obligations, supernumeraries are not as available to the organization as the other types of members, but they typically contribute financially to Opus Dei, and they lend other types of assistance as their circumstances permit. Unlike other types of members, supernumeraries are not required to be celibat
The Cooperators of Opus Dei are those who, though not considered members by Opus Dei, collaborate in some way with Opus Deiusually through praying, charitable contributions, or by providing some other assistance. Cooperators are not required to be celibate or to adhere to any other special requirements. Indeed, cooperators are not even required to be Christian.[5]
Cooperators may attend the educational and training activities provided by the Opus Dei. Many cooperators are relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors of the members of Opus Dei.[citation needed] Religious communities as a whole can also become cooperators of Opus Dei. There are currently number several hundred of these communities who pray for Opus Dei daily.[citation needed]
Supernumeraries
Supernumeraries, the largest type, currently account for about 70% of the total membership.[1] The term "supernumerary" is a civil designation for an additional member of a society, for example professors, judges, actors, etc.
Typically, the supernumeraries of the Opus Dei prelature are married men and women who have secular careers and lead traditional family lives. Supernumeraries often devote a portion of their day to prayer, in addition to attending regular meetings and taking part in activities such as retreats. Due to their career and family obligations, supernumeraries are not as available to the organization as the other types of members, but they typically contribute financially to Opus Dei, and they lend other types of assistance as their circumstances permit. Unlike other types of members, supernumeraries are not required to be celibat
Admission and Incorporation
To become a member of Opus Dei one has to receive a divine calling or a vocation, a calling which requires practising the modes of the Opus Dei prelature. For this the directors of Opus Dei will have to discern if someone does have the vocation, before allowing him to be incorporated into the prelature.
Incorporation into Opus Dei is done through a written contractual bond between the person who has the vocation and the prelature.
[edit]Manner of incorporation
There are some key procedures that be followed for someone to become a member of Opus Dei:
Freedom
In order to join Opus Dei a person must freely ask to do so, in the personal conviction of having received this divine vocation. He may find this out through his prayer and usually with the help of a spiritual director.
Adulthood
In accordance with canon law, no one may be juridically incorporated into the prelature until he has reached 18 years of age.
Nevertheless, from the age of 14 years and 6 months, a young person can show his interest in the organization, and begin to participate in its activities: recollections, retreats, seminars, spiritual direction, apostolate.
Written request
The request is made in writing.
Acceptance by the prelature
The request needs to have been accepted by the authorities of the prelature and admission is granted after a minimum of six months. After a period of at least a year, the interested person can be incorporated temporarily to the prelature by means of a formal declaration of contractual nature. This is known as oblation, and is renewable annually.
[edit]Stages of membership: Admission and incorporation
Admission is granted after a minimum of six months.
After an additional period of at least one year since the moment of his admission, the person can be temporarily incorporated into the prelature (oblation) through a formal declaration of a contractual nature, which is renewable annually.
After a minimum of five more years, the incorporation can become definitive. This step is called Fidelity, that ties to perpetuity to the member of the Opus Dei. If the member wishes to leave the prelature, he needs a dispensation which the Prelate alone can grant.
If anyone, before incorporation as a Numerary or Associate is seen to lack suitability for that, he may be retained as a Supernumerary, as long as he has the requisite conditions.
[edit]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_membership_of_Opus_Dei#Cooperators
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
93 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
TRANSCRIPT: Former Catholic Priest Matthew Fox on Ratzinger, Opus Dei & The Broken Catholic Church [View all]
Segami
Feb 2013
OP
Yes, loudsue...a lot of this was known by DUers for years, but isn't it GREAT to see someone writing
antigop
Feb 2013
#34
Could this be tied into the infamous Franklin Credit - Boy's Town pedophile scandals?
Berlum
Feb 2013
#44
The interview offers a great explanation of why the right-wing hates the arts. nt
antigop
Feb 2013
#31
This is a very important interview/article. Mandatory reading for my DU booklist.
Melinda
Feb 2013
#51
Great article, thank you. It's encouraging that the very top man, Ratzinger, is forced
mountain grammy
Feb 2013
#55
Nothing frightens me more than the power of religion over people's lives so
mountain grammy
Feb 2013
#88
You are probably right, but there's no church without a flock and they are fleeing.
mountain grammy
Feb 2013
#90
I was out driving today and pulled up at a light. The car ahead of me had all kinds of
amandabeech
Feb 2013
#71
K&R. I remember being so disappointed in the Vatican for condemning Liberation Theology.
Overseas
Feb 2013
#75