Help
With Your Rule
Opus Dei and Motherhood...
Dear Holly,
I want to suggest another book for your reading list:-). Scott Hahn writes about his experience and membership in Opus Dei in a new book called Ordinary Work Extraordinary Grace (I'd double check that title)-his style is so wonderful, you can feel the beauty of Opus Dei and it's nice to be familiar with his voice because I can hear him telling his story-it really hits home. I tell you because the Mothers Rule of Life, for lack of a better way to put this;) is sooooooo Opus Dei-again, I am struck by the confirmation I am finding! I believe you have a patron saint for your book! I, myself, am and have been for the past two years in the midst of a heavy battle with living through a rule, but time and time and time...:) again, it is confirmed for me that this is God's call to me. Even in one of the pamphlets from the Opus Dei priest, he talks about the Loaves and the Fish!!!
Scott also talks about how people balk at the Opus Dei "plan of life"-basically a prayer rule. But he then says his spiritual director helped him to implement each step little by little and he had extraordinary amounts of time to complete things, or experienced an unexpected relief from duties, or became far more productive in the same amount of time, all the while coming closer to God and improving his relationships with family and friends! The similarities are so striking. So, I am praying to St. Josemaria Escriva to help me and I know he will! Also, maybe to post, Opus Dei priests are particularly called to helping the laity sanctify their daily work and they offer so much in the way of spiritual direction and formation. Perhaps this is the best place many of the moms who long for spiritual direction, as I do, can look for that long lost spiritual director!!!
Labels: 1st P Prayer
posted by Holly at 7:35 PM
2 Comments:
I have only a superficial knowledge at this point with Opus Dei, but as I understand it, it is a lay movement with a charism designed to help the ordinary layperson achieve holiness in their present circumstances - very much in line with A Mother's Rule Of Life!
So yes, thank you for you sharing, and perhaps some Opus Dei priests may very well meet the need for some spiritual directors!
A link or two
Escriva Writings
Opus Dei
I find this interesting because I am a member of Regnum Christi and as I read MROL I thought it was VERY in line with Regnum Christi. In fact many women in my Regnum Christi group have read MROL and wondered if Holly is RC. We have a Program of Life where we put pen to paper and evaluate where our life is at present and where it needs to go. Then we make resolutions of practical ways to acheive these things. In fact after I developed my MROL I discovered that it helped me stay more consistant in my Regnum Christi prayer and apostolic committments.
I think these instances are proof positive that many many people need a "plan to holiness". Most people cannot just wing it. It is too easy to become distracted, behind and overwhelmed. Many of the ecclesial movements within the church are designed to help the faithful get more organized in their faith. The MROL helps us come to holiness through our vocation of wife and mother. The more tools we have to help us get to heaven the better!!
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