The Da Vinci Code film SEEK THE TRUTH!

The Priory of Sion according to the DVC A real organisation founded in 1099 to defend the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene A real organisation founded in 1099 to defend the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene Persecuted by the Catholic Church Persecuted by the Catholic Church Dedicated to the Sacred Feminine Dedicated to the Sacred Feminine

The Priory of Sion – in fact Invented by Pierre Plantard in 1956 (a conman recently out of prison) Invented by Pierre Plantard in 1956 (a conman recently out of prison) Planted documents in National Library of Paris Planted documents in National Library of Paris Admitted to be a hoax on TV by its founder Admitted to be a hoax on TV by its founder

How much else is true? How much of what DVC says about Opus Dei is true? How much of what DVC says about Opus Dei is true? Hardly anything How much of what DVC says about the Catholic Church is true? How much of what DVC says about the Catholic Church is true? Hardly anything How much of what DVC says about art, architecture, geography, literature, is true? How much of what DVC says about art, architecture, geography, literature, is true? Hardly anything THE DVC IS A WORK OF FICTION!

What the DVC claims Jesus Christ was not God: this was invented by people later Jesus Christ was not God: this was invented by people later Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they had a child Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they had a child The Catholic Church exists to keep this secret from people, and is ready to kill people to do this: the Church is a big lie The Catholic Church exists to keep this secret from people, and is ready to kill people to do this: the Church is a big lie Opus Dei is the Catholic group that does the dirty work (like killing or stealing) Opus Dei is the Catholic group that does the dirty work (like killing or stealing) The Christian faith is false, a delusion The Christian faith is false, a delusion

Turn it around It’s a book about Christ It’s a book about Christ It’s a unique opportunity to talk about Christ! It’s a unique opportunity to talk about Christ!

The real Opus Dei A part of the Catholic Church A part of the Catholic Church A very simple message: Everyone is called to holiness A very simple message: Everyone is called to holiness What is holiness What is holiness Sanctification of work Sanctification of work Vatican II Vatican II

Saint Josemaría Escrivá Born: 1902 Born: 1902 Founded Opus Dei: 1928 Founded Opus Dei: 1928 Died: June 26, 1975 Died: June 26, 1975 Canonized: 2002 Canonized: 2002 Some quotes follow…

Work has a spiritual meaning “God waits for us every day, in the laboratory, in the operating theatre, in the army barracks, in the university chair, in the factory, in the workshop, in the fields, in the home and in all the immense panorama of work.” “God waits for us every day, in the laboratory, in the operating theatre, in the army barracks, in the university chair, in the factory, in the workshop, in the fields, in the home and in all the immense panorama of work.” “In God’s eyes there are no second class jobs. All of them are important… Which job is better? Whichever is done with greater love for God.” “In God’s eyes there are no second class jobs. All of them are important… Which job is better? Whichever is done with greater love for God.”

Discovering the greatness of ordinary life “Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine, in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” “Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine, in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” “Holiness does not consist in doing ever more difficult things, but in doing them each time with more love.” “Holiness does not consist in doing ever more difficult things, but in doing them each time with more love.”

Sanctifying family life “Love which leads to marriage and family, can also be a marvellous divine way, a vocation, a path for complete dedication to God.” “Love which leads to marriage and family, can also be a marvellous divine way, a vocation, a path for complete dedication to God.” The majority of members of Opus Dei are married and live with their families.

Bringing others to Christ “When you launch out into the apostolate, be convinced that it is always a question of making people happy, very happy: truth is inseparable from true joy” “As we work at out job, side by side with our colleagues, friends and relatives, and share their interests, we can help them come closer to Christ”

Members of Opus Dei Men and women, young and old, lay people and priests, single and married Men and women, young and old, lay people and priests, single and married Of every occupation and social level Of every occupation and social level Numeraries, associates and supernumeraries Numeraries, associates and supernumeraries Priests of Opus Dei Priests of Opus Dei

Women in Opus Dei Women and men have same status Women and men have same status Women can do any job they like, including looking after a family Women can do any job they like, including looking after a family Women run their activities independently of the men Women run their activities independently of the men Some women look after the centres Some women look after the centres

Commitments Spiritual formation Spiritual formation –Weekly circle –Monthly evening of recollection –Annual retreat and course Spiritual commitments Spiritual commitments –Daily Mass –Reading of Scripture and spiritual books –Time for prayer –Examination of conscience

How Opus Dei is organised Prelate in Rome Prelate in Rome Two councils in Rome (one for men and one for women) Two councils in Rome (one for men and one for women) Two councils in each country Two councils in each country A local council for each centre A local council for each centre This is the least important aspect of Opus Dei This is the least important aspect of Opus Dei

Joining Opus Dei It’s a vocation from God It’s a vocation from God All members of Opus Dei have the same vocation: to seek holiness in their ordinary lives All members of Opus Dei have the same vocation: to seek holiness in their ordinary lives Any lay Catholic can ask to join Any lay Catholic can ask to join Time for discernment before asking Time for discernment before asking 18 months before commitment 18 months before commitment People join by choice and are free to leave People join by choice and are free to leave

Freedom of members No outward change in their lives No outward change in their lives Free to tell of their membership to whoever they like Free to tell of their membership to whoever they like Free to hold whatever opinions they wish in political, economic or social matters Free to hold whatever opinions they wish in political, economic or social matters Freedom and personal responsibility Freedom and personal responsibility

Apostolate Main apostolate is personal Main apostolate is personal Corporate works Corporate works –What they are –Examples –Finances –Role of Opus Dei Activities for young people Activities for young people

Netherhall House Inter-collegiate hall of residence for students Inter-collegiate hall of residence for students 100 students 100 students From 30 countries From 30 countries A quarter are British and another quarter European A quarter are British and another quarter European About half are Catholic About half are Catholic

The Da Vinci Code and Opus Dei How much about Opus Dei in the Da Vinci Code is true? How much about Opus Dei in the Da Vinci Code is true? Hardly anything

So what’s wrong? A) Neutral Members of Opus Dei are not monks Members of Opus Dei are not monks Lifestyle descriptions are not accurate Lifestyle descriptions are not accurate Opus Dei’s HQ is in Rome, not New York Opus Dei’s HQ is in Rome, not New York B) Damaging Allegation about the Vatican and money Allegation about the Vatican and money Brainwashed killer monks Brainwashed killer monks Distortion of corporal mortification Distortion of corporal mortification

Corporal mortification Context: prayer, fasting, good works Context: prayer, fasting, good works Traditional in the Church – and other religions Traditional in the Church – and other religions Most mortifications are very small Most mortifications are very small Examples of corporal mortifications: sackcloth and ashes, walking barefoot, hair-shirt, cilice, sleeping rough Examples of corporal mortifications: sackcloth and ashes, walking barefoot, hair-shirt, cilice, sleeping rough Motivation: reminder, moral training, solidarity Motivation: reminder, moral training, solidarity Secular motivation: dieting, sports training Secular motivation: dieting, sports training

The Prelature Opus Dei established as a personal Prelature by John Paul II in 1982 Opus Dei established as a personal Prelature by John Paul II in 1982 Envisaged in Vatican II Envisaged in Vatican II Suitable for an organisation of ordinary Catholics Suitable for an organisation of ordinary Catholics Working together with the bishops Working together with the bishops

Opus Dei in the Church Opus Dei only exists to serve the Catholic Church Opus Dei only exists to serve the Catholic Church Fully approved by all the Popes Fully approved by all the Popes Serves the Church with its particular charism Serves the Church with its particular charism Can run parishes but it’s not its main activity Can run parishes but it’s not its main activity

Opus Dei worldwide Africa:1,600 Africa:1,600 Asia:4,700 Asia:4,700 America:29,000 (USA: 3,000) America:29,000 (USA: 3,000) Europe:49,700 Europe:49,700 Total:85,000 Total:85,000 Priests:1,800 Priests:1,800 Women:42,000+ Women:42,000+

Opus Dei in Britain There are about 500 members in Britain. There are about 500 members in Britain. There are centres in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Oxford. There are centres in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Oxford.

SEEK THE TRUTH!