Different from other lay associations

Our work is also very different from that which is ordinarily done by other lay people in associations or movements of various kinds, promoted more or less directly by the ordinary hierarchy of the Church, or by religious orders or congregations.

These associations or movements do not require full dedication to doing apostolate. The bond between them and their members is weak, almost non-existent, or empty in practice. Their ascetical and doctrinal formation lacks any depth of rigour and continuity; they feel no need to go any deeper, and, from another angle, it cannot be said to be essential for their goals.

But even if they possessed all these things, they would always lack that close, total union between professional and apostolic work, which is a fundamental characteristic of the specific vocation and the specific ascetical demands of the members of the Work; and whose practical consequence is that neither Opus Dei nor its members need money from anyone, since they support themselves with their professional work; although on the other hand, what is indispensable to the apostolic undertakings we carry out is the generous cooperation of people, Catholics or not, who strengthen our effectiveness with their prayer, work, or money.