543. June 16, Definitive Approval of Work

Meditations no. 474 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Divine Providence has guided every step along the juridical path of the Work.

The definitive approval of the Work by the Holy See took place on the 16th of June 1950, a date which coincided that year with the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When we celebrate this family feast, we want to thank God, who, in his unfathomable divine Providence guided our Father every step of the way along the juridical path of the Work.

The Work is a novelty, as old as the Gospel, which enables people of all classes and conditions, without any discrimination of race, nation or language, to make that sweet encounter with Jesus Christ in their daily tasks. It is a simple novelty just like the ‘good news’ of the Lord.

And to open the way for this divine wish, an event of great theological, pastoral and social importance in the life of the Church, God led me by the hand, quietly, little by little, until his castle was built. “Take that step”, he seemed to say, “put that here now, take away what’s here in front and put it over there.” That is the way our Lord has built his Work, with firm strokes and fine outlines, a work both old and new, as is the Word of Christ.

The divine game I am talking to you about appears very clearly in the history of our juridical itinerary within the life of the Church. I have not had to calculate, as if I were playing chess; among other things because I have never pretended to guess the other person’s moves so as to checkmate him later. What I have had to do is to let myself be led.

By the pontifical approval of 1947, the juridical endorsement of the universality of Opus Dei was obtained. However, there were no workable paths open, other than the general juridical framework of the time. Our Father saw that he was obliged to make concessions, but without yielding in what was essential. He was encouraged to reclaim these points as soon as possible.

Already in the Decretum Laudis, the Holy See recognised the novelty of our way… and it also recognised the specific traits of our internal law. Precisely on account of its newness, an arduous task of study was demanded before proceeding towards pontifical approval. During the years 1947-1950, our founder collaborated closely with the Holy See in order to make the Work progress along its juridical path. Primarily, he had recourse to prayer, which is always our first and principal instrument. At the same time, he prepared the appropriate documents with the help of Don Álvaro.

Referring to those years, our Father later wrote: It was not vain legalism that moved me to work untiringly so that everything was fixed in broad norms that accorded with our vocation. What moved me was the grave responsibility of making sure that this new phenomenon was set forth in the norms of our particular law, according to what the Lord wanted.

The Lord sustained our founder, helping him find the best ways to explain the spirit of the Work. He strengthened him to defend it and keep it intact along the successive stages of the juridical road, which only came to an end when the Work was erected as a personal Prelature. I suffered a lot those years, and I don’t hide it from you. But I must also tell you that the Lord comforted me and gave me strength day by day, without any sort of miracles, to follow his plans: spiritus Dei fecit me et spiraculum Omnipotentis vivificavit me (Job33: 4); ‘the Spirit of God created me, and the Almighty gave me life’. Without this benevolence of God, my children, . I would have died. When I think about those years, I cannot help saying to our Lord: omnia quae fecisti nobis, Domine, in vero iudicio fecisti (Dan 3: 31); ‘all the things You have done, You have done with true justice.’ My God, one could see it was You!

With the definitive approval, fundamental aspects of the spirit of Opus Dei were confirmed.

In the 1950 decree of approval the marvellous expansion of Opus Dei was recognised: having been sown like a tiny seed in the field of the Lord, it had grown in an admirable way, until it became a leafy, spreading tree.

During the three years since the granting of the Decretum Laudis, the Work had spread its apostolic efforts to new countries in Europe and America. By God’s grace, the number of vocations had increased considerably. But the novelty of the pastoral phenomenon of Opus Dei demanded an especially thorough scrutiny of our internal law by the Holy See. This is expressly mentioned several times in the definitive decree of approval. As you will understand, my children, these repeated declarations about the admirable expansion of the Work and about the novelty of our law and asceticism constituted an explicit recognition about Opus Dei. It was a most particular theological and pastoral phenomenon. It was born to be universal - that is to say, Roman, Catholic and truly ecumenical - and in fact it was universal. New and universal, since the members of the Work were persons of all social classes, without discrimination of race, tongue or nationality. Besides, our very reason for living led us to work and live alongside all persons, in order to be present in all temporal affairs.

The spirit of the Work was like the new wine of which the Gospel speaks; it has to be kept in new skins. Nevertheless, many people who were accustomed to the canonical moulds that were centuries old, could not grasp the depth and transcendence of the novelty contained in the message of Opus Dei. In order to save what was essential, we had to tolerate the other obscure meanings and inaccuracies. Our Father was obliged to make concessions without yielding, and with a mind to recover these points later. Our Father used this graphic phrase to express his criterion of prudence.

In the midst of these historical circumstances God has guided us, step by step, with his loving providence: misericordiam et iudicium cantabo tibi, Domine (Ps 100: 1): Lord, I will praise your mercy and your justice, forever. He lent us his fortitude so that we stick to our way. He fed us, lest we grow faint in the face of hardships: surge, comede: grandis enim tibi restat via (1 Kings 29: 7): feed yours elf with my Will because you have a long way to go.

It seemed as though God our Father was looking upon his Work - a new creature - and addressing it in the words of St Paul to Timothy: nemo adolescentiam tuam contemnat, sed exemplum esto fidelium in verbo, in conversatione, in caritate, in fide, in castitate (1 Tim 4: 12): let no one despise your youth - your newness - but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. With virtues, my children: virtues are the important thing, the first thing God asks us: all the theological virtues and all the cardinal virtues.

This is what the divine Spirit advises us, this is what the breath of divine love inspires, because, hoc enim faciens, et teipsum salvum facies, et eos qui te audiunt (1 Tim 4: 16): for by so doing, you will reach holiness and lead your hearers towards holiness.

With this God-given assistance, which were lights, consolations, roses and thorns, we have obtained the approval of the Work, within a broad juridical framework, with well-defined specific characteristics, with its specific ascetical practices and its character, fully lay, secular, repeatedly confirmed.

The admission of diocesan priests to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross also became possible.

Towards the end of 1949, our Father wrote: The definitive approval will give us, my daughters and sons, a new stability, a new weapon of defence, a greater facility for our apostolic work. It will once again set the fundamental principles of the Work: secularity, sanctification of work, the fact that we are ordinary citizens, and, above all, especially in the spiritual dimension, our conviction that we are God’s children.

Our founder felt the urgency to receive definitive approval from the Holy See, since misunderstandings had not ceased. The first steps were taken on the 11th of February 1950, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The request was endorsed by one hundred and ten prelates from sixteen countries; they sent their letters of commendation to the Holy See. The full congress of the corresponding Dicastery met on 1 April and voted in favour of the definitive approval. However, before approving the ius peculiare (our particular law), they considered it opportune to make a more thorough study of several questions. These matters seemed less simple because of their newness. Here there was a dilata, or further waiting time. But the Lord made use of this delay so that the decree of definitive approval could resolve the problem of attaching diocesan priests to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross.

Our Father told us several times that he was ready to leave Opus Dei in order to help diocesan priests, once the Work obtained pontifical approval. But God did not want it that way, and he freed me from the very big sacrifice that leaving Opus Dei would have meant for me. He did this by his merciful, loving hand as a Father. I had informed the Holy See unofficially of my decision… but I later saw clearly that this new foundation, this new association, was not necessary, since diocesan priests fitted perfectly within the Work.

In effect, the members of Opus Dei must seek their sanctification in the fulfilment of their duties, making the effort to carry out their ordinary work in the best possible way and without leaving their place in the world. It follows that diocesan priests, too, can sanctify themselves in the exercise of their own priestly ministry. They do this in accord with the spirit of Opus Dei, without leaving their place or altering their condition as members of their diocesan presbyterate.

In May and June our Father tried again to accelerate the process of definitive approval. In addition to clarifying previous questions which had caused the two months’ delay, he set forth the reasons for admitting diocesan priests into the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, as Associate or Supernumerary members.

On the 16th of June 1950, the Holy See issued the decree of definitive approval. Today we give thanks to God for this great thrust to the development and growth of Opus Dei throughout the entire world. Thanksgiving that will reach heaven through the hands of the Most Blessed Virgin, Regina Operis Dei, Queen of Opus Dei.