A doctor, a professor, a dancer, a stay-at-home mom, and a marketing executive are some of the inspiring women portrayed in this collection that describes the women of Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic organization composed of clergy and lay members dedicated to fostering Christian principles at all levels of society. Each essay, interview, and profile in this compilation explores facets of Opus Dei that are unfamiliar to many. The DaVinci Code and other popular entertainments have whetted the interest in this controversial organization, and promulgated many assumptions that members of the organization contest. The women portrayed in this collection encompass an inspiring—and, for some, surprising—segment of a Catholic institution that encourages women around the globe to develop their skills and talents to the fullest and to be engaged in the world. Single, celibate women and those raising families describe their first encounters with Opus Dei, what made them decide to join, and how it transforms and orders their daily lives. Relevant information on the organization and workings of Opus Dei, its structure, and some of the key practices of the members are also discussed.
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The Catholic group Opus Dei (Latin for work of God) emerges in this compact collection of essays and interviews as an entity that gives its female members a deep sense of purpose amid ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. Whether they are stay-at-home mothers or professionals in academia and business, these women tell of lives changed by their faith and what they commonly refer to as the Work. Opus Dei members, according to founder St. Josemaría Escrivá, aspire to be contemplative souls in the midst of the world who try to convert their work into prayer. They do this through offering their work to Christ and following a spiritual regimen of daily prayer and regular theological development programs. Excerpts from Escrivá's writings and an explanation of the group's structure help fill out the selected narratives. Readers looking for the kind of intrigue found in The Da Vinci Code's treatment of this group won't find it here, but they will get an honest appraisal from women who know Opus Dei from the inside out. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"An honest appraisal from women who know Opus Dei from the inside out." —Publishers Weekly
"I loved these women! From changing diapers, to Harvard medical internships, to the top of a Tibetan mountain, they show all women how to confront the ordinary circumstances of life with extraordinary joy. Whether former atheists or cradle-Catholics, they have discovered a path that will inspire any woman who longs for a deeper way to deal with her days." —Delia Gallagher, Vatican analyst and former CNN faith and values correspondent
"Perhaps no part of contemporary Roman Catholicism has been more misunderstood and misconstrued than has Opus Dei, especially in the days since the publication of the popular bestseller, The DaVinci Code. This collection of interviews and autobiographical statements, by contrast, offers its readers not only a sympathetic, but also a very informative, presentation of the prelature and is to be highly recommended to those who are interested in this influential organization." —Phyllis Tickle, author, The Divine Hours
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Marie T. Oates is the principal of Boston PR Group, Inc. Her firm assists companies and foundations with strategic communications and development projects. Her client list includes a mix of foundations, medical and biotech firms, as well as market research and communication companies. She is also experienced in helping national organizations with media and message training. Her work experience includes serving as the Executive Director of Bayridge, a Boston center for university and professional women; she also served as Manager of Publications and Research at Deaconess Hospital, and sold advertising for the Boston Herald.
Marie is an avid writer. Her writings have appeared in the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, the Washington Times, the National Review and a number of other publications. In 2004, she published her first novel, Erin's Song. Her second book, Women of Opus Dei: In Their Own Words (Crossroad Publishing, 2009), was published in April 2009.
Marie serves and has served on several boards, including the Child Care Careers Institute, The Rosemoor Foundation, Fisherman Foundation, and Bayridge Residence and Cultural Center. She has served as the President of the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and as a member of the AMWA national board of directors. She served on the Organizing Committee and obtained significant funding for "Bold New Era for Cardiovascular Research", a national conference which brought together top researchers and clinicians from around the country to discuss cardiovascular disease, with a special emphasis on how it affects women and minorities.
She is also on the Council for Women at Boston College. Marie also oversaw the Ayer Mansion (the only Louis Comfort Tiffany designed mansion in Boston) Restoration Campaign for which she assembled a world class advisory board and helped raise over $1 million in restoration and endowment funds. The Ayer Mansion was recently declared a National Landmark Building, and the restoration project has received several historic preservation awards.
Marie has volunteered as a consultant for the Rosedale Achievement Center in the Bronx, NY, an inner city center dedicated to helping less privileged girls and women attain needed educational helps and marketable skills. She also founded a tutoring program with Harvard University students for Cambridge inner city high school girls at North Cambridge Catholic High School. She has provided pro bono consulting services for the Metro Achievement Center for young women in Chicago, which provides inner city girls and women with added academic training. She also helped found a teen radio talk show, A Voice in the Crowd, in CT. She holds a BA in English from Boston College and a Master's in Journalism from Boston University.
Marie is an avid writer. Her writings have appeared in the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, the Washington Times, the National Review and a number of other publications. In 2004, she published her first novel, Erin's Song. Her second book, Women of Opus Dei: In Their Own Words (Crossroad Publishing, 2009), was published in April 2009.
Marie serves and has served on several boards, including the Child Care Careers Institute, The Rosemoor Foundation, Fisherman Foundation, and Bayridge Residence and Cultural Center. She has served as the President of the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and as a member of the AMWA national board of directors. She served on the Organizing Committee and obtained significant funding for "Bold New Era for Cardiovascular Research", a national conference which brought together top researchers and clinicians from around the country to discuss cardiovascular disease, with a special emphasis on how it affects women and minorities.
She is also on the Council for Women at Boston College. Marie also oversaw the Ayer Mansion (the only Louis Comfort Tiffany designed mansion in Boston) Restoration Campaign for which she assembled a world class advisory board and helped raise over $1 million in restoration and endowment funds. The Ayer Mansion was recently declared a National Landmark Building, and the restoration project has received several historic preservation awards.
Marie has volunteered as a consultant for the Rosedale Achievement Center in the Bronx, NY, an inner city center dedicated to helping less privileged girls and women attain needed educational helps and marketable skills. She also founded a tutoring program with Harvard University students for Cambridge inner city high school girls at North Cambridge Catholic High School. She has provided pro bono consulting services for the Metro Achievement Center for young women in Chicago, which provides inner city girls and women with added academic training. She also helped found a teen radio talk show, A Voice in the Crowd, in CT. She holds a BA in English from Boston College and a Master's in Journalism from Boston University.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Read!,
By LEE (Riverside, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Women of Opus Dei: In Their Own Words (Paperback)
I almost didn't finish this book. I had gotten close to the end and then was distracted by another project. Last night I couldn't sleep, so I picked it up as easy reading to try to lull myslef back to sleep, thinking, well, now's a good time to finish this book. My God, I'm glad I did. Kuddos to the editors for including Margaret Kalb's Changing Diapers for God. I was downstairs at 3:30 AM this morning laughing my head off! There are many inspiring stories of diverse and unique women that really make you think, but in my opinion, Margaret's takes the cake. Specifically, I think she best describes the fact that heroism is not found in always being perfect and doing everything perfectly like many moms and wives think. Instead, heroism is found in always "beginning again." Thanks Margaret for sharing your sincerity and charm.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating look into the lives of incredible women!,
By rtmdc (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Women of Opus Dei: In Their Own Words (Paperback)
I read this book over the weekend. It was just too good to put down. As I finished it, I felt a smile on my face and I was heartened by the hopefulness of knowing that somewhere out there these ordinary women are trying to live their faith to the full, with utter naturalness. What a thoroughly inspiring and enjoyable read!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Women making the world a better place,
By
This review is from: Women of Opus Dei: In Their Own Words (Paperback)
This is an extremely well-written book that is an enjoyable and inspiring read. You want to keep on reading it but I limited myself to one chapter a night and I looked forward to meeting another wonderful women each evening. They certainly inspired me regarding the important role women can play in making this world a better place. My brother was in hospice before he died of cancer and I now know I can thank the late Josefina Magno for founding this wonderful organization that supports the dignity of living and dying with one's eyes on God.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
