Characteristics and Mission

Opus Dei is a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei (latin for "Work of God") was founded in Madrid on October 2, 1928, by Saint Josemaria Escriva. Nearly 84,000 people from around the world belong to the Prelature.

The mission of Opus Dei is to promote among Christians of all social classes a life in the middle of the world fully consistent with their faith and to contribute to the evangelization of every sphere of society. In short, it is to spread the message that all the baptized are called to seek holiness and to make the Gospel known.

In order to achieve this aim, the Prelature provides for the spiritual, educational (formational), and pastoral care of its faithful, and offers this help to many other persons, each one in his or her own state in life, profession, and situation in the world. Chaucer Drive Study Center is one of many centers throughout the United States and the world where spiritual, educational, and pastoral care is provided.

The sanctification of work for the faithful of the Prelature means:

  • Working with the greatest possible competence;
  • Carrying out their work with the fullest respect for the law and in conformity with the demands of ethics;
  • Seeking union with God in that work;
  • Working with the desire of serving one's fellow citizens and of making a contribution to the progress of society.
A result of numerous men and women committing themselves to an authentic Christian life will be the sanctification of the world, the permeation of all activities and temporal realities with the spirit of the Gospel.

The faithful of the Prelature carry out the work of evangelization in every sector of society, since they work in all areas. Their apostolic work is not limited to specific fields, such as education, care for the sick, or help for the handicapped. The mission of the Prelature is to remind all Christians that in whatever secular activity they dedicate themselves to they must cooperate in solving the problems of society in a Christian way, and bear constant witness to their faith.

For more information, visit the official Opus Dei website at www.opusdei.org.