Love for the Bishops

These considerations lead me to speak to you of something else which imbues all our apostolic service. Because of the fact that we love the Church, we have a great love for the Bishops, whom the Holy Spirit has made ... overseers, to care for the church of God (Acts 20:28).

The fruit of our labour remains in the dioceses

We work in their dioceses, following in the same direction as the Reverend Ordinaries, and the fruit of our apostolate remains in the dioceses. We strive to further their desires, through our own special way of working as citizens, since acting otherwise we could not count on the grace of God Our Lord.

Instructions from the Bishops

Within this spirit, our obedience is complete: let them give apostolic instructions, and we will work effectively and quietly. And if the Reverend Ordinary has no need to indicate anything special, we will try, while working to serve the diocese, to achieve the aims proper to Opus Dei.

Gratitude of the ecclesiastical hierarchy

For this reason the bishops – almost all of them – are happy and grateful for the good you do in their dioceses. Bear in mind, however, that not only should they be happy with us, but we should be happy with them – I know that you understand this expression, which doesn’t imply any lack of respect: by our lay work we contribute to the service of the diocese and to the improvement of the spiritual life of the faithful, without costing the diocese a penny or demanding anyone’s help. In short, out of charity, out of love for our Mother the Church and souls, we do what the Ordinary has a duty to do out of justice, by virtue of his episcopal consecration and the mission entrusted to him in his diocese.