E187: Debunking The Myths About Opus Dei w/Fr Luke Mata
The Lila Rose Show
Lila Rose
4.8 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 7 February 2025
⏱️ 88 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, Lila sits down with Fr. Luke Mata to explore the spiritual principles of Opus Dei, which translates to "The Work of God." Unlike many religious groups which encourage people to leave society in order to become sanctified, Opus Dei Founder St. Josemaria Escriva taught that one can become holy through the business of everyday life, not in spite of it.
Fr. Luke also shares how his deep faith—and his mother’s example of holiness in the midst of suffering—shaped his spiritual journey, guiding him to a vocation in the priesthood where he would ultimately serve as Vicar of Opus Dei for the West.
Fr. Luke has a PhD in Moral Philosophy and served in two papal synods. He also is a former Vicar of Opus Dei for the West.
Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about vocation, leadership, and living out your faith in the modern world.
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00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:24 - When did you become a priest?
00:02:49 - Longing for priesthood growing up?
00:10:57 - EveryLife
00:15:19 - Opus Dei parties
00:20:32 - Franciscan University Steubenville
00:21:34 - Conversion Stories
00:31:49 - Seven Weeks
00:32:59 - What is Opus Dei?
00:37:28 - Is Opus Dei secretive
00:39:19 - DaVinci Code and Dan Brown
00:42:17 - Is Opus Dei powerful?
00:46:47 - Is Opus Dei wealthy?
00:48:16 - What does it mean to be a member of Opus Dei?
00:49:55 - Plan of Life
00:51:58 - How to develop a consistent prayer life?
00:55:09 - Too much noise & need for silence
00:57:47 - Who do you pray to?
01:03:10 - What about Mary?
01:08:33 - Whole point of Opus Dei
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What is Opus Day and why is it different from just being a regular Catholic? |
| 0:06.0 | While you're working, your work, you're turning it into prayer by the love you put into it. |
| 0:11.3 | Dan Brown wrote a book, generally speaking Opus Day, making it out to be secretive and shady |
| 0:16.4 | and they do all these self-punishments. During those years, I remember it being on flights, people |
| 0:21.5 | next to me reading the book. So I say, how do you like the book? Oh, it's great. And I would ask, |
| 0:26.1 | have you ever met anybody in Upustain? Oh, no. Hi, you know, and I would introduce myself and then |
| 0:31.0 | led to really wonderful conversations, you know. |
| 0:34.0 | Father Luke Motta, welcome to the podcast. Thank you. Thank you, Lila. Great to be here. |
| 0:37.7 | It's an honor to have you here. You're very busy going up and down California, preaching the good news, |
| 0:43.3 | and we have many, many mutual friends. You have helped me and heard my confession many times. |
| 0:47.4 | So thank you for all of your labors of love for souls and for our Lord. |
| 0:52.8 | You're very, very welcome. |
| 0:54.4 | You're very gracious. |
| 0:55.3 | Thank you, Lila. |
| 0:56.3 | So my hope bringing you here, and thank you for coming, is to talk about prayer |
| 1:01.1 | and also what it means to be a priest of the work. |
| 1:05.7 | I think there's some myths to shatter maybe about Opus Day that I thought, who better than |
| 1:10.4 | Father Luke Mata? |
| 1:12.4 | So thank you. Thanks for being willing to share all that. Ask me anything you want. |
| 1:17.2 | Ask Father Luke Mata anything. Amazing. So let's start with your priesthood. When did you become a |
| 1:24.7 | priest? What made you decide to become a priest? |
| 1:34.6 | Well, I became a priest about 20 years ago, and why? Because I felt like God was calling me to it. |
... |
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