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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| ⚫ | * http://www.odan.org/ | ||
| ⚫ | * http://www.americamagazine.org/articles/martin-opusdei.htm | ||
| * http://www.opusdei.org/ | * http://www.opusdei.org/ | ||
| * http://www.mond.at/opus.dei/ | * http://www.mond.at/opus.dei/ | ||
| ⚫ | * http://www.odan.org/ | ||
| * http://www.odan.org/archives_corporal.htm | * http://www.odan.org/archives_corporal.htm | ||
| * http://dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Opposing_Views/Christianity/Catholicism/Opus_Dei/ | * http://dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Opposing_Views/Christianity/Catholicism/Opus_Dei/ | ||
| ⚫ | * http://www.americamagazine.org/articles/martin-opusdei.htm | ||
Revision as of 04:37, 23 January 2003
Opus Dei ("The Work of God", "The Work", "God's Work") is a powerful and influential conservative Roman Catholic organization founded in 1928 by Josemaria Escriva (who styled himself with the aristocratic title "de Balaguer"). Pope John Paul II gave Opus Dei the status of his personal prelature in 1983, and canonized Josemaria Escriva in 2002.
They are regarded by some as a religious cult. Their detractors accuse them of being influenced by fascist ideas: Escriva was certainly a supporter of Francisco Franco.
Many members of the group reportedly choose careers in banking and other lucrative occupations, making substantial donations to the organisation. Through this method, it has apparently amassed considerable funds.
They practice mortification of the flesh, viewed by some as a form of algolagnia. Josemaria Escriva is recorded as having whipped himself until the wall of the room were splattered with blood.
- "Blessed be pain. Loved be pain. Sanctified be pain. . . Glorified be pain!"
- (Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, The Way, 208)