Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to spread the message that work and the circumstances of everyday life are occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society. http://www.opusdei.org.za/ http://www.opusdei.org/img/opusdeirss.gif http://www.opusdei.org.za/ VIDEO: an aerospace technical writer talks about what drew him to Opus Dei, what Opus Dei provides for him as a cooperator, and controversies about Opus Dei. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=16052 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=16052 Bishop Javier Echevarría spoke these words in Rome on August 7 as the tribunal of the Prelature of Opus Dei closed the introductory phase of the Cause of Canonization for Bishop Álvaro del Portillo, first successor of St. Josemaría. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29135 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29135 Alvaro del Portillo was St. Josemaria's most trusted collaborator and his successor. He became the first Prelate of Opus Dei in 1982 and was ordained Bishop in 1991. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29118 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29118 Following the Holy Father, the Prelate invites us to consider St. Paul's teachings and draw practical consequences for our lives: "Who is Paul? What does he say to me?" http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29105 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29105 Love and respect one another. This was Saint Paul's advice to married people. The theologian Carla Rossi speaks about the Apostle's teachings on matrimony in the second video offered by the Opus Dei website for the Pauline year. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29048 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29048 A small child’s sickness and pain are very difficult to understand. But Antek, a five year old Polish boy, discovered their meaning. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29021 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=29021 Death is hard, St. Josemaría admits, but it is the step that opens the doors of life. And so we Christians can face death with hope (Weekly Video, 00’52’’). http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28977 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28977 The particular challenge facing Christians of our age is discovering how to present Jesus Christ to those for whom he is merely an irrelevant historical figure. This theme is taken up by Dr. Luis Clavell, professor at the Pontifical Unversity of the Holy Cross in Rome. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28903 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28903 The Diocese of Rome has finsihed collecting testimony from those who knew Alvaro del Portillo. This documentation will now be sent to the Vatican. We offer a video summary of the official act that closed this stage of the process. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28922 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28922 In Seville (Spain), St. Josemaría conversed with a man from the country: “Work makes us brothers,” the saint told him. The farmer’s culture, not learned from books, enabled him to get very close to God. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28891 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28891 So referred Pope Benedict XVI to the young people at World Youth Day in Australia. We offer a summary, in 35 brief passages, of what the Holy Father said to them and to the youth of the world. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28896 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28896 The Prelate recently addressed an International Symposium on Ethics, Business and Society at the IESE business school in Barcelona. He spoke about the need for Christian humanism in Business. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28883 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28883 Christ encouraged us to help others in such a way that only God knows. St. Josemaría repeats that message here (0’37”). http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28798 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28798 With a lot of work to do, we can easily forget to greet our Lord and our Lady with words of affection. St. Josemaría suggested using “alarm clocks,” small objects or pictures that remind us of God’s presence (01’38”). http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28446 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28446 Pope Benedict XVI has begun his pastoral trip to Australia, for World Youth Day. In his preparatory message he said, “How great a need our world has for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit!” With a link to photos of the Pope's stay at Kenthurst Study Center. http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28776 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28776 Without love, life wouldn’t be worth living. Therefore St. Josemaría counseled: “Fall madly in love,” both when our love is in heaven and when it’s on earth (0’58”). http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28691 http://www.opusdei.org.za/art.php?p=28691