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Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei

scott hahn

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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.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2,2005

This edition

Format
176 pages, Hardcover
Published
September 26, 2006 by Image
ISBN
9780385519243
ASIN
0385519249
Language
English

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About the author

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scott hahn

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Dr. Scott Hahn was born in 1957, and has been married to Kimberly since 1979. He and Kimberly have six children and are expecting their twelfth grandchild. An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Hahn has delivered numerous talks nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics related to Scripture and the Catholic faith. Hundreds of these talks have been produced on audio and videotapes by St. Joseph Communications. His talks have been effective in helping thousands of Protestants and fallen away Catholics to (re)embrace the Catholic faith.

He is currently a Professor of Theology and Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990, and is the founder and director of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology. In 2005, he was appointed as the Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hahn is also the bestselling author of numerous books including The Lamb's Supper, Reasons to Believe, and Rome Sweet Home (co-authored with his wife, Kimberly). Some of his newest books are Many Are Called, Hope for Hard Times, The Catholic Bible Dictionary, and Signs of Life.

Scott received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a triple-major in Theology, Philosophy and Economics from Grove City College, Pennsylvania, in 1979, his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1982, and his Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Marquette University in 1995. Scott has ten years of youth and pastoral ministry experience in Protestant congregations (in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Kansas and Virginia) and is a former Professor of Theology at Chesapeake Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 1982 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia. He entered the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, 1986.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 42 votes)
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42 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Kohomint
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Over the years, when I've been aware of something of Opus Dei, a glancing blow, I have been drawn to what I became aware of. This book was on the Used Book table at our local bookstore. Scott Hahn. Very good. Opus Dei. Very good again. What a combination! And so, after reading this book which explains Opus Dei with more clarity, I am very drawn to its spirituality because, among other things, it is so real, so natural. Live life as it is, but live it for the glory of God in everything we do.
I finished the book and am immediately beginning to reread it.
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Bugr
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Is it by faith alone that one is saved??? Is it by works??? Does one need both. This book's answers makes sense to me.
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FeelsBad
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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I didn't get the clarity I had hoped for, but it gave me a few more glimmers to understand.
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kywah
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Whenever I have a question about the Catholic Faith, be it doctrine, dogma, or just Catholic culture I always find myself turning to Dr. Scott Hahn for answers. Whatever the subject, Dr. Hahn seems to have written about it and I feel that I can depend on him for honest answers written in a context that I or anyone else can easily understand. This book written from the perspective of an insider is no exception as the author explains the theology of the supposedly menacing and dark Opus Dei.

As one reads this book it is easy to see the influence of Opus Dei on Dr. Hahn and his previous writings. One of the central tenants of the order is Divine Filiation (God our Father, Christ our Brother, all of us as part of one Holy Family) and that same emphasis is a major part of Dr. Hahn's writings. Other important facets of the order are daily prayers, reading of scripture, and Mass attendance. In other words, Opus Dei is an organization that promotes the living of a Holy life in our daily living. This is indeed an important teaching since we all too often forget about God except on Sunday.

The most important and central point of the teachings of Opus Dei however seems to be that all that we do should be done for and in honor of God. According to Dr. Hahn our work should be done in the absolute best way that we can and then offered to God as a sacrifice such as the sacrifices offered up by the Israelites in the Old Testament. These sacrifices were required to be the best available and thus our work should also be as perfect as possible. This teaching makes sense but would also seem, like the Protestant work ethic, to be a teaching that could be used by employers as an excuse for taking advantage of their workers.

Whether you agree or disagree with the teachings of Opus Dei however this book will certainly enlighten you as to the basics of that personal Prelature. (To find out just what a personal Prelature is you will just have to read the book) Dr. Hahn not only explains the basic teachings of Opus Dei but he also gives us its basic history and explains its organization. This certainly isn't a long book but it seems as if everything of real importance is at least touched upon. As usual Dr. Hahn does this with a clear and easy to grasp writing style that makes what could well be a dull subject into a very interesting book. I would advise anyone who might be curious about Opus Dei to read this book. It's honest, clearly written, and very enlightening.
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caetit
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Didn't get to finish it but from the 2/3 I read it was good.
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Feduchiiz
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Easy read and provides interesting information about Opus Dei - I learned a lot.
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MatsukenninoL
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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This has filled my soul with so much delight and happiness. I will definitely read more books and learn more about the Opus Dei and St. Josemaria. I am so grateful for Dr. Hahn's intelligence. He writes so eloquently!

A beautiful prose on the Opus Dei that helped me understand and appreciate it even more. St. Josemaria, ora pro nobis.
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