Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei

A great read and excellent book for all who are truly seeking to find God in thier daily life.Every home should have a copy of this book and it makes a great Father's day gift and just a great gift overall.

I have been a Cooperator of Opus Dei for roughly two years now and have read, or at least, tried to read, many books on the spirit of Opus Dei. None of them come close to Scott Hahn's book. If you are looking for a great, short spiritual read, this is it.

This extraordinary little book is unlike anything else out there about Opus Dei. There are books that both vilify and support or endorse Opus Dei, but this book is about personal journey, the positive, transformative, life-changing effects that being involved with the work has had upon one man's life. Unlike the fictional Da Vinci Code, which portrays Opus Dei as the ultimate evil, or even the supposedly non-fiction books Their Kingdom Come by Robert Hutchinson or Michael Walsh's Opus Dei: An Investigation into the Powerful, Secretive Society Within the Catholic Church, this book is based upon a true story and personal experience. In this book, Hahn has an openness and transparency about his personal life seldom seen in authors writing about spiritual matters. Hahn opens up areas of his life for us to see; he shares mistakes he has made and how through the guidance of others he has learnt and grown with the help of the spirituality of Opus Dei. Dr. Hahn opens up the world of Opus Dei, through his coming into contact with a few men who were devout Catholics - men of faith and of the Word that influenced his spiritual growth in many ways. Hahn reveals the spirit/core/intent of Opus Dei in the order that he came to understand it. In this compact 155-page book, Hahn provides lively and easily- accessible explanations of key aspects of Opus Dei, such as: "divine filiation", the idea that we are sons and daughters of God, the foundation of Opus Dei's spirituality. Also he explains how ordinary work is a way of imitating Jesus and a way to share in God's creation and the redemption of the world. He also explains Opus Dei as a "personal prelature", and how that works, as well as the role of Opus Dei in the Catholic Church. Dr. Hahn also shows the important role of genuine friendship in spreading Christ's message, and how some of those key friendships helped draw him into the Catholic Church, and Opus Dei. Dr Hahn states: "Opus Dei was someplace where I could feel at home. What were those reasons? · First and foremost was its members' apparent devotion to the Bible. · Second was its warm ecumenism. Opus Dei was the first Catholic institution to welcome non-Catholics to cooperate in its apostolic labors. · Third was how upright the lives of members were. · Fourth was how ordinary their lives were. They were not theologians - they were dentists, engineers, journalists - but they were talking and living a theology I found attractive. · Fifth, they espoused a holy ambition - a devout work ethic. · Sixth, they practiced hospitality and gave their attention generously to my many questions. · And seventh, they prayed. They made time for intimate prayer every day - true conversation with God. This gave them a serenity I had rarely encountered." p.4, 5 Those were the reasons that Dr. Hahn was attracted to Opus Dei in the beginning. Dr. Hahn also gives a number of different definitions of what Opus Dei is throughout the book. He states that one of his favo

Whenever I have a question about the Catholic Faith, be it doctrine, dogma, or just Catholic culture I always find myself turning to Dr. Scott Hahn for answers. Whatever the subject, Dr. Hahn seems to have written about it and I feel that I can depend on him for honest answers written in a context that I or anyone else can easily understand. This book written from the perspective of an insider is no exception as the author explains the theology of the supposedly menacing and dark Opus Dei. As one reads this book it is easy to see the influence of Opus Dei on Dr. Hahn and his previous writings. One of the central tenants of the order is Divine Filiation (God our Father, Christ our Brother, all of us as part of one Holy Family) and that same emphasis is a major part of Dr. Hahn's writings. Other important facets of the order are daily prayers, reading of scripture, and Mass attendance. In other words, Opus Dei is an organization that promotes the living of a Holy life in our daily living. This is indeed an important teaching since we all too often forget about God except on Sunday. The most important and central point of the teachings of Opus Dei however seems to be that all that we do should be done for and in honor of God. According to Dr. Hahn our work should be done in the absolute best way that we can and then offered to God as a sacrifice such as the sacrifices offered up by the Israelites in the Old Testament. These sacrifices were required to be the best available and thus our work should also be as perfect as possible. This teaching makes sense but would also seem, like the Protestant work ethic, to be a teaching that could be used by employers as an excuse for taking advantage of their workers. Whether you agree or disagree with the teachings of Opus Dei however this book will certainly enlighten you as to the basics of that personal Prelature. (To find out just what a personal Prelature is you will just have to read the book) Dr. Hahn not only explains the basic teachings of Opus Dei but he also gives us its basic history and explains its organization. This certainly isn't a long book but it seems as if everything of real importance is at least touched upon. As usual Dr. Hahn does this with a clear and easy to grasp writing style that makes what could well be a dull subject into a very interesting book. I would advise anyone who might be curious about Opus Dei to read this book. It's honest, clearly written, and very enlightening.

Five BIG Stars!! Dr. Scott Hahn, the awesome Christian author and idealogue, reveals the theology and inner workings of the supposedly 'mysterious' Opus Dei organization by showing it's impact on his life. Dr. Hahn, a former Protestant minister and a Catholic convert, is the author of numerous religious books and recordings, a college theology professor, and makes frequent theological teaching appearances on the worldwide Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). This is not a hard-hitting investigative or historical book, but a quick but deep religious examination of Opus Dei's "biblical theology and biblical spirituality". Opus Dei is directly translated as "God's Work". The Opus Dei depicted here is a rather benign, "ordinary" organization of very dedicated and religious men and women who are focused on quietly living a daily holy life and doing their daily work, indeed all activities, in honor of God. But even more, it is "a way" to seek sainthood for everyone: beyond organization or a prayer ritual. It appears to be made up mostly of ordinary workers we would find anywhere: engineers, bus drivers, lay teachers, shift workers doing their daily jobs among us, but with a singular purpose behind the ordinary work: its all for God. To Dr. Hahn, Opus Dei is a beacon leading to the deep Christian life that he sought to live. The members are prone to carrying small bibles for daily readings and reference, to carving out a daily period for prayer, amid the bustle of life, and daily Mass. All of which he claims has resulted in extraordinary graces from God being dispensed on individuals and the Opus Dei organization. Dr. Hahn cites eight reasons for feeling welcomed into the group, among which are devotion to the bible, ecumenism with non-Catholics, the upright lives of the members, a devout work ethic, and intimate daily prayer to God. Apart from it's deep religious trappings, this book can be read to get at the truth of this quiet religious organization, founded by Saint Josemaria Escriva', beyond what was incorrectly presented by the fictional bestselling book "The Da Vinci Code" and the eponymous movie. Opus Dei includes priests, religious, and lay persons of both sexes and apparently is open to anyone within the faith (Catholics and non-Catholics) with a deep desire to lead a daily holy life. Terms like "lights" and "daily filiation" abound to give us a deeper view into the thinking and experiences of the founder. This book also includes actual prayers of St. Josemaria to allow one to see the mental mindset of Opus Dei members when praying or to use on our own. And Dr. Hahn reveals the "secret" of Opus Dei. Even so, the members swimming the deep spiritual waters of Opus Dei have been the subject of suspicion, claims of elitism, and controversy from those within and outside of the Catholic Church. Judge for yourself. Highly recommended, with a heavy religious slant. Five DISCURSIVE Stars!!! (Hardcover, 156 pages)