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Opus Dei: How can we sanctify our work and sanctify ourselves through our work? You said that by God's plan we are all called to holiness, and as most of us work in the middle of the world, in different …More
Opus Dei: How can we sanctify our work and sanctify ourselves through our work?

You said that by God's plan we are all called to holiness, and as most of us work in the middle of the world,
in different activities, different jobs, how can we put into practice what you say about sanctifying our work and sanctifying ourselves through our work?
Listen, my son, it's true that I said it, but I was only saying what's already been said. I was acting as a "loudspeaker" -- do you use that word here? -- for our Lord, because he says, "vocavit nos in sanctificationem", he has called us to be holy.
And elsewhere he says, -- I had it put up in the house where I live in Rome, above a door, I put up a text from Sacred Scripture, from the Holy Spirit: "elegit nos ante mundi constitutionem, ut essemus sancti in conspectu eius," Our Lord has chosen us before the creation of the world, that we should be holy in his presence.
So it's not I who say it, it's God.
You're quite right, we have to be holy.
How? Quite simply, as men and women, men and women who have God's grace, because without God's grace and the protection of God's Mother we would only make a mess of things. Just like a small child without his mother's love, without his father's care and protection, couldn't do anything, wouldn't manage a thing. Before God, who is eternal, you and I -- especially I, who am getting on, well, together with everyone else, I'm a small child. We can't give ourselves too much importance.
And that's the good thing about our lives: that we're small, and God will help us to be holy, by fulfilling the duties of our state. If you are married, by loving your wife very much, and by loving your children very much, by looking after yourself for their sake, by caring for them, by working at your job, out of a sense of justice, by being generous, by fulfilling the duties of justice and the duties of charity as well, which means putting your heart into things on earth. Otherwise life is very hard, very dry.
Let's put our hearts into things, let's bring Christ's charity there, and like that everything in life is gentle, there's no violence. You don't like violence, and neither do I. You're on the way to holiness, you can rest assured that you're doing well.
Thank you, Father.

Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society.
Opus Dei complements the work of local churches by offering classes, talks, retreats and pastoral care that help people develop their personal spiritual life and apostolate.

SECTION CONTENTS

MESSAGE
Work, family life, and other ordinary activities are occasions for spiritual union with Jesus Christ.

PLACE IN THE CHURCH
Opus Dei's work of spiritual formation complements the work of local churches.

ACTIVITIES
Opus Dei's main activities are classes, retreats and spiritual direction.

MEMBERS
Opus Dei has around 90,000 members, both men and women; 98% are laypersons, most of whom are married.

JOINING
Membership involves a commitment to receive spiritual formation from Opus Dei and to participate in its mission.

PRIESTS
Diocesan priests may join the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, a society united to the Opus Dei Prelature.

COOPERATORS
Those who wish to help Opus Dei without being members may become Cooperators.

GOVERNANCE
Opus Dei is governed by a Prelate, currently Bishop Javier Echevarría, in accord with canon law and its own statutes.

HISTORY
Opus Dei was founded in 1928 in Spain and is currently established in 66 countries.

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LINKS
The Holy See
Writings of the founder of Opus Dei
Saint Josemaría website
Romana, Bulletin of the Opus Dei Prelature
St. Josemaria Institute
Strathmore University
Kianda School
Strathmore School
Kimlea Girls' Technical Training Centre
Kenya Episcopal Conference