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Revision as of 14:22, 7 January 2003 by Magnus Manske (talk | contribs) (prelature)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Opus Dei ("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.
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)