The Da Vinci Code The Da Vinci Code filmfilm

SEEK THE SEEK THE TRUTH!TRUTH!

The Priory of Sion The Priory of Sion according to the DVCaccording to the DVC A real organisation founded in A real organisation founded in

1099 to defend the bloodline of 1099 to defend the bloodline of Jesus and Mary MagdaleneJesus and Mary Magdalene

Persecuted by Persecuted by the Catholic Churchthe Catholic Church

Dedicated to the Dedicated to the Sacred FeminineSacred Feminine

The Priory of Sion The Priory of Sion – in fact– in fact Invented by Pierre Plantard in Invented by Pierre Plantard in

1956 (a conman recently out of 1956 (a conman recently out of prison)prison)

Planted documents in National Planted documents in National Library of ParisLibrary of Paris

Admitted to be a hoax on TV by Admitted to be a hoax on TV by its founderits founder

How much else is true?How much else is true?

How much of what DVC says about How much of what DVC says about Opus Dei is true? Opus Dei is true?

Hardly anythingHardly anything How much of what DVC says about How much of what DVC says about

the Catholic Church is true?the Catholic Church is true?Hardly anythingHardly anything

How much of what DVC says about art, How much of what DVC says about art, architecture, geography, literature, is true?architecture, geography, literature, is true?

Hardly anythingHardly anything

THE DVC IS A WORK OF FICTION!THE DVC IS A WORK OF FICTION!

What the DVC claimsWhat the DVC claims

Jesus Christ was not God: this was Jesus Christ was not God: this was invented by people laterinvented by people later

Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they had a childand they had a child

The Catholic Church exists to keep this The Catholic Church exists to keep this secret from people, and is ready to kill secret from people, and is ready to kill people to do this: the Church is a big liepeople to do this: the Church is a big lie

Opus Dei is the Catholic group that does Opus Dei is the Catholic group that does the dirty work (like killing or stealing)the dirty work (like killing or stealing)

The Christian faith is false, a delusionThe Christian faith is false, a delusion

Turn it aroundTurn it around

It’s a book It’s a book about Christabout Christ

It’s a unique It’s a unique opportunity to opportunity to talk about talk about Christ!Christ!

The real Opus DeiThe real Opus Dei

A part of the Catholic ChurchA part of the Catholic Church A very simple message:A very simple message:

Everyone is called to holinessEveryone is called to holiness What is holinessWhat is holiness Sanctification of workSanctification of work Vatican IIVatican II

Saint Josemaría Saint Josemaría EscriváEscrivá

Born: 1902Born: 1902 Founded Opus Dei: Founded Opus Dei:

19281928 Died: June 26, Died: June 26,

19751975 Canonized: 2002Canonized: 2002

Some quotes Some quotes follow…follow…

Work has a spiritual Work has a spiritual meaningmeaning

““God waits for us every day, God waits for us every day, in the laboratory, in the in the laboratory, in the operating theatre, in the army operating theatre, in the army barracks, in the university barracks, in the university chair, in the factory, in the chair, in the factory, in the workshop, in the fields, in the workshop, in the fields, in the home and in all the immense home and in all the immense panorama of work.”panorama of work.”

““In God’s eyes there are no In God’s eyes there are no second class jobs. All of them second class jobs. All of them are important… Which job is are important… Which job is better? Whichever is done better? Whichever is done with greater love for God.”with greater love for God.”

Discovering the Discovering the greatness greatness of ordinary lifeof ordinary life ““Understand this well: Understand this well:

there is something there is something holy, something holy, something divine, in the most divine, in the most ordinary situations, ordinary situations, and it is up to each and it is up to each one of you to discover one of you to discover it.”it.”

““Holiness does not Holiness does not consist in doing ever consist in doing ever more difficult things, more difficult things, but in doing them but in doing them each time with more each time with more love.”love.”

Sanctifying family lifeSanctifying family life

““Love which leads Love which leads to marriage and to marriage and family, can also be a family, can also be a marvellous divine marvellous divine way, a vocation, a way, a vocation, a path for complete path for complete dedication to God.”dedication to God.”

The majority of The majority of members of Opus Dei members of Opus Dei are married and live are married and live with their families.with their families.

Bringing others to Bringing others to ChristChrist

“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 DeiMembers of Opus Dei

Men and women, young Men and women, young and old, lay people and and old, lay people and priests, single and marriedpriests, single and married

Of every occupation and Of every occupation and social levelsocial level

Numeraries, associates Numeraries, associates and supernumerariesand supernumeraries

Priests of Opus DeiPriests of Opus Dei

Women in Opus DeiWomen in Opus Dei

Women and men have same statusWomen and men have same status Women can do any job they like, Women can do any job they like,

including looking after a familyincluding looking after a family Women run their activities Women run their activities

independently of the menindependently of the men Some women look after Some women look after

the centresthe centres

CommitmentsCommitments

Spiritual formationSpiritual formation– Weekly circleWeekly circle– Monthly evening of Monthly evening of

recollectionrecollection– Annual retreat and courseAnnual retreat and course

Spiritual commitmentsSpiritual commitments– Daily MassDaily Mass– Reading of Scripture and spiritual booksReading of Scripture and spiritual books– Time for prayerTime for prayer– Examination of conscienceExamination of conscience

How Opus Dei is How Opus Dei is organisedorganised Prelate in RomePrelate in Rome Two councils in Rome (one Two councils in Rome (one

for men and one for women)for men and one for women) Two councils in each Two councils in each

countrycountry A local council for each A local council for each

centrecentre This is the least important This is the least important

aspect of Opus Deiaspect of Opus Dei

Joining Opus DeiJoining Opus Dei

It’s a vocation from GodIt’s a vocation from God All members of Opus Dei have the same All members of Opus Dei have the same

vocation: to seek holiness in their vocation: to seek holiness in their ordinary livesordinary lives

Any lay Catholic can ask to joinAny lay Catholic can ask to join Time for discernment before askingTime for discernment before asking 18 months before commitment18 months before commitment People join by choice and are free to People join by choice and are free to

leaveleave

Freedom of membersFreedom of members

No outward change in their livesNo outward change in their lives Free to tell of their membership to Free to tell of their membership to

whoever they likewhoever they like Free to hold whatever opinions they Free to hold whatever opinions they

wish in political, economic or social wish in political, economic or social mattersmatters

Freedom and personal responsibilityFreedom and personal responsibility

ApostolateApostolate

Main apostolate is personalMain apostolate is personal Corporate worksCorporate works

– What they areWhat they are– ExamplesExamples– FinancesFinances– Role of Opus DeiRole of Opus Dei

Activities for young peopleActivities for young people

Netherhall HouseNetherhall House

Inter-collegiate hall of Inter-collegiate hall of residence for studentsresidence for students

100 students100 students From 30 countriesFrom 30 countries A quarter are British A quarter are British

and another quarter and another quarter EuropeanEuropean

About half are About half are CatholicCatholic

The Da Vinci Code and Opus The Da Vinci Code and Opus DeiDei

How much about Opus Dei in the Da How much about Opus Dei in the Da Vinci Code is true?Vinci Code is true?

Hardly anythingHardly anything

So what’s wrong?So what’s wrong?

A) NeutralA) Neutral Members of Opus Members of Opus

Dei are not monksDei are not monks Lifestyle Lifestyle

descriptions are not descriptions are not accurateaccurate

Opus Dei’s HQ is in Opus Dei’s HQ is in Rome, not New YorkRome, not New York

B) DamagingB) Damaging Allegation about the Allegation about the

Vatican and moneyVatican and money Brainwashed killer Brainwashed killer

monksmonks Distortion of Distortion of

corporal corporal mortificationmortification

Corporal mortificationCorporal mortification

Context: prayer, fasting, good worksContext: prayer, fasting, good works Traditional in the Church – and other religionsTraditional in the Church – and other religions Most mortifications are very smallMost mortifications are very small Examples of corporal mortifications: Examples of corporal mortifications:

sackcloth and ashes, walking barefoot, hair-sackcloth and ashes, walking barefoot, hair-shirt, cilice, sleeping roughshirt, cilice, sleeping rough

Motivation: reminder, moral training, Motivation: reminder, moral training, solidaritysolidarity

Secular motivation: dieting, sports trainingSecular motivation: dieting, sports training

The PrelatureThe Prelature

Opus Dei established as a personal Opus Dei established as a personal Prelature by John Paul II in 1982Prelature by John Paul II in 1982

Envisaged in Vatican IIEnvisaged in Vatican II Suitable for an organisation of Suitable for an organisation of

ordinary Catholicsordinary Catholics Working together with the bishopsWorking together with the bishops

Opus Dei in the ChurchOpus Dei in the Church

Opus Dei only exists to serve the Opus Dei only exists to serve the Catholic ChurchCatholic Church

Fully approved by all the PopesFully approved by all the Popes Serves the Church with its Serves the Church with its

particular charismparticular charism Can run parishes but it’s not its Can run parishes but it’s not its

main activitymain activity

Opus Dei worldwideOpus Dei worldwide

Africa:Africa: 1,6001,600 Asia:Asia: 4,7004,700 America:America: 29,00029,000

(USA: 3,000)(USA: 3,000) Europe:Europe: 49,70049,700 Total:Total: 85,00085,000

Priests:Priests: 1,8001,800 Women:Women: 42,000+42,000+

Europe57%

Africa2%

America34%

Asia7%

Opus Dei in BritainOpus Dei in Britain

There are about There are about 500 members in 500 members in Britain.Britain.

There are centres There are centres in London, in London, Manchester, Manchester, Glasgow and Glasgow and Oxford.Oxford.

SEEK THE TRUTH!SEEK THE TRUTH!