Opus Dei vocation and callings? What do they do?

Question

I was reading of Opus Dei and to be even considered becoming a member you need a calling to it and also a vocation for works?

Can someone give me an example of these?

Answer 1

According to Catholic officials, while everyone is called to holiness, not all are called to Opus Dei. Being ordinary Catholics, and not nuns or priests, Opus Dei members are incorporated into the prelature not by means of vows, but by private contracts. They have to freely ask to be incorporated, convinced they have received a vocation. Members are committed to practice Opus Dei's teachings and attend regular classes and retreats. Opus Dei members received the same calling, and thus there are no degrees of membership and the terminology for the types of members refer to the different circumstances in which they live their vocation:

Supernumeraries account for about 70% of the total membership. Typically, supernumeraries are married men and women who have normal careers and lead traditional family lives. Due to these obligations, supernumeraries are not as available to assist in organisational matters as the other types of members. They contribute financially to Opus Dei.

Numeraries, who comprise about 20% of total membership, are celibate members who usually live in special centres run by Opus Dei. These centres are gender-segregated, with only very minimal contact between male and female numeraries. Numeraries generally have normal careers and devote the bulk of their income to the organisation.

Numerary assistants are unmarried, female members. Their professional life is dedicated to looking after the domestic needs of the centres.

Associates are unmarried, celibate members who typically have family or professional obligations. Unlike numeraries and numerary assistants, the associates do not live in the special Opus Dei centres

Answer 2

Opus Dei is a Catholic institution that helps people try to come closer to God in their work and everyday lives. Yes, joining Opus Dei is considered a vocation, i.e., it's a lifetime commitment, something that someone does after careful thought and prayer.

Someone doesn't just go and join Opus Dei. First, you would start taking part in some of Opus Dei's activities, such as the retreats or classes. (In fact, most people taking part in Opus Dei's activities aren't members.)

After you start to participate in Opus Dei's activities, over time you would try to live out some of the customs followed by members of Opus Dei, such as spending some quiet time in prayer each day, or making a habit of offering up to God the work that you do. Then, if it makes sense to you, you could talk with someone in Opus Dei about the possibility of a joining, pray about it, and try to discern if God is calling you to be a member.

On the Opus Dei Web site, there is a detailed explanation of the what it mean to have a vocation in Opus Dei: http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=11401

For information about Opus Dei in your local area, you can write to [e-mail].