Product Description

To conspiracy theorists, Opus Dei is a highly secretive and powerful international organization. To its members, however, Opus Dei is a spiritual path, a way of incorporating the teachings of Jesus into everyday life. In Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace, Scott Hahn, a member of Opus Dei, describes the organization’s founding, its mission, and its profound influence on his life.

Hahn recounts the invaluable part Opus Dei played in his conversion from Evangelical Christianity to Catholicism and explains why its teachings remain at the center of his life. Through stories about his job, his marriage, his role as a parent, and his community activities, Hahn shows how Opus Dei’s spirituality enriches the meaning of daily tasks and transforms ordinary relationships. He offers inspiring insights for reconciling spiritual and material goals, discussing topics ranging from ambition, workaholism, friendship, and sex, to the place of prayer and sacrifice in Christianity today.

Engaging and enlightening, Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace is at once a moving personal story and an inspiring work of contemporary spirituality.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64093 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-26
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

From Publishers Weekly
With interest in the controversial group Opus Dei piqued by the popularity of the novel, TheDa Vinci Code, a book by a member who purports to tell his "personal story" is bound to attract attention. Unfortunately, this latest work from author and Catholic convert Hahn consists mostly of a didactic treatment of the theology of Opus Dei, containing little that is compelling about its relationship to Hahn's life. The author was drawn to Opus Dei after meeting several of its members at a time when he was pondering whether to join the Catholic Church. Disappointed in the lack of zeal he had found among other Catholics, he was pleased to discover in Opus Dei members a lively faith that was closer to what he had known among fellow evangelical Protestants. "Opus Dei," he writes, "was someplace where I could begin to feel at home." Other than this brief personal vignette, Hahn remains in the role of teacher and biblical theologian, expounding on the group's tenets as formed by its founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá. Hahn's book is useful as an introduction to Opus Dei for those seeking to learn about the organization and its spiritual foundations, but it could have benefited from greater personal reflection. (Oct. 3)
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From AudioFile
Paul Smith narrates the story of Hahns personal journey from being a conventional Protestant minister to becoming a member of the controversial Catholic group called Opus Dei. Smiths narration, which projects a calm, reasonable demeanor, is steady as the author describes the process of joining practical faith with daily living. Opus Dei members are ordinary people with a strong work ethic who also enjoy living for and talking about God. They consider themselves children of God and find their identity in Him. Smiths delivery is warm As Hahn tells engaging personal stories that examine Opus Dei from the view of an insider. The work includes appendices, Saint Josemarias prayers, and an article Hahn wrote about Saint Josemaria and Scripture. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review

Advance Praise for Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace 


“Only a few years ago, Opus Dei was seen as alien, secretive, and sinister. Then some writers began to take a closer look. Now Scott Hahn has given us a lively and readable account of the joy he and thousands of others have discovered in doing God’s work in God’s world.”

—(The Rev.) Richard John Neuhaus, editor-in-chief of First Things


“If you want the real story about Opus Dei, Scott Hahn will give you the shocking truth—the shock of a Gospel life lived effectively in the midst of the world. Like all his other books, this one will challenge your view of the Christian life.”

—Father Benedict J. Groeshcel, C.F.R., author of Arise From Darkness
 

 “Scott Hahn’s abilities as a scholar, teacher, and writer are already well known. But the story of his journey to Opus Dei that emerges here, and his portrait of The Work remind us that each of us, no matter what our vocation or state of life, is called to holiness. This is compelling reading.”
—Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver


“In the vast ocean of literature on Opus Dei, what we have not had until now is a book written by an insider but accessible to outsiders. Faced with the popular myth of a militant, foreboding society, the average person has been left to ask: What in the world might attract someone to this? Scott Hahn provides the answer. He opens up the spiritual core of Opus Dei, explaining why tens of thousands of thoughtful people have seen it as their pathway to holiness, and to the holiness of the world. In these pages, Hahn’s prose is at its sparkling, insightful, crystal-clear best. It’s a book that needed to be written, so that we all may understand.”

—John Allen, Vatican writer for the National Catholic Reporter and author of Opus Dei
 

“Scott Hahn is one of our finest spiritual writers, and in Opus Dei he has found a subject worthy of his gifts. This is a book that everyone can ponder and pray over with profit.”

—Russell Shaw, author of Catholic Laity in the Mission of the Church and Personal Vocation

Customer Reviews

fantastic
The author writes a fantastic overview of the catholic spirituality for those wanting to live their christianity in a daily life.

Personal Divinization
This review stuck a tender nerve. Hahn's theology is based on dogma and beliefs, unleavened by faith, which is why his numerous writings are so ultimately uninspiring and uninspired. Hahn squeezes out faith from memorizing and breaking down Old and New Testament passages into digestible chunks, sucking the juice of wisdom dry, and regurgitating to a worshipful audience. In all his theological meanderings and desire to prove his points, Scott Hahn heavily relies on quoting biblical passages and citing their numbers, yet he misses the bigger, far more complex picture. This numerical correctness lacks depth; Hahn emulates a lawyer debating points, rather than a philosopher with something real to contribute.

Hahn's descriptions of Opus Dei portray it as Catholicism with training-wheels, for those for whom Mass is Not Enough, actually reflecting a lack of faith. Members feel more devout by enacting little rights of self-mortification. In a world full of pain, why monstrously and egotistically borrow pain? Why not go help those who are really suffering in pain? Note to the pseudo-suffering: don't worry, if you live long enough, pain will come. Flagellation by choice or self-inflicted suffering is an act of enormous ego, of a superiority complex run amuck, not faith or devotion.

One of Hahn's cheesy favorite phrases is, "It doesn't get any better than this." It's surprising how many fall for this spiritual used-car salesman. He displays a zealous desire to convert non-Christians and Protestants to his faith. Though apostolic, the Church claims to understand that other faiths must be approached with respect. Hahn needs to soak his head in Ratzinger's (Pope Benedict XVI) "What It Means to Be a Christian," and read it repeatedly. Make it the Way. Absorb where the Pope wrote, "Everything we believe about God, and everything we know about man, prevents us from accepting that beyond the limits of the Church there is no more salvation, that up to the time of Christ all men were subject to eternal damnation" (pg 45). Interreligious dialogue is not synonymous with moral or religious equivocation.

Pope Benedict XVI has never said that Jews are unsaved unless they convert, in fact, he has described God's First Covenant with respect to the Jewish people. It is one thing to be a light to the world, but Christianity has a lot to answer for in two thousand years. Try James Carroll's superb "Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews." Faith has been horrifically misused by those who transform its truths into a bludgeon to force conversion. Currently, with the scandals of the Church sex abuse cases and cover-up, spiritual betrayal has been perpetrated on an unimaginable scale. What has Opus Dei done to assist victims of the Churches current sins?

But Hahn's fascination with his own process of self "divinization" is incapable of complexity. The Opus Dei he presents exhibits consistent, ardent elitism, insisting that baptism is the only way to God's grace. Even in Hahn's conversion story, he would not suffer in patience, there was no saintly Way for this man. No, he broke his covenant with his wife in order to leave her behind and convert to Catholicism before she was ready for this drastic transition. And Opus Dei helped him in this process. Hahn, in his typically self-centered way, found scriptural justification for this action, and broke his promise to his wife that he would wait till she was ready. He exhibits the self-centered narcism of his generation, focusing on his "divinization," leaving his partner in spiritual darkness. And Opus Dei was there to hold his hand.

Opus Dei exclusively consists of only the baptized, and attracts overzealous converts. For these aspiring lay people, simply attending Mass once a day is not enough, deep worship via Mass is simply inadequate to feed their narcissism. So their Dei consists of mimicking the Mass throughout the day, adding rules to the rules. Opus Dei is an elitist club within a club, completely counter to the humility of Jesus and His Dei, His work and His way. Hahn needs to prove the depth of his faith with a theological bludgeon, lacking grace and subtlety.

Pope Benedict XVI has in fact distanced himself from this egocentric, self indulgent organization. Hahn remains busy creating the Hahn New Revelation Catholic Church, with legions of ardent fans waiting with bated breath for his next pearls of wisdom. I feel obligated, having (wrongly) purchased several of Hahn's books (donated to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, a far worthier organization than Opus Dei), to warn others about this seriously misguided man and Opus Dei (Egomaniac Masochists). It's clear Hahn aspires to be a new Aquinas or Augustine, but future theologians will find his numerous books to be trite at best; quantity does not quality make.

Begining Of A Spritual Journey With Opus Dei As My Guide
Scott Hahn gives a full and wonderful view of the Opus Dei way of life. It is a way of life that can bring a person closer to God in profound and wonderful ways. The Scriptures come alive. Prayers are more focused and a conversation with God. A deep spiritual learning and progress in life takes place.