Description
THE FIRST THOUSAND
Book Summary
A documented study of the first thousand women who joined Opus Dei in a Spain that did not offer a defined place for them. The work narrates how these pioneers, driven by an inner calling, led a silent revolution that transformed their environment and contributed to the country's modernization. Through their experiences, the reader discovers the process that consolidated the founding of Opus Dei and the universality of its message.
What is it about?
The book reconstructs the profile and experiences of the first women who felt called to live the spirit of Opus Dei in mid-20th century Spain. It focuses on how these women, in a social context of strong limitations, found in their faith a driving force to promote personal and social change. The work details the evolution of this group from its uncertain beginnings to its definitive approval by the Holy See, a moment when doubts about the breadth of the foundational message were dispelled. It analyzes how their incorporation, along with that of the supernumeraries, demonstrated in practice the universal call to holiness in everyday life, thus completing the structure of Opus Dei.
Main Themes
- The role of women in postwar Spain and their process of modernization.
- The history of the first steps of Opus Dei among women.
- The experience of the Christian vocation in the secular and professional spheres.
- The concept of holiness in ordinary life as a driver of social change.
- The relationship between personal initiative and the ecclesiastical institution.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in the contemporary history of the Church in Spain, in the development of Opus Dei, or in studies on the role of women in the 20th century. It is also of interest to those seeking testimonies of faith lived in complex social contexts and to researchers of ecclesial movements and their social impact.
What this book contributes
- A documented and detailed vision of a little-known chapter in the history of Opus Dei.
- An analysis of the social and cultural context surrounding the first women of the Work.
- Testimonies that illustrate how spirituality can drive social action and modernization.
- An understanding of how the full integration of women into the foundational charism was gestated.
- A rigorous historical perspective that helps to understand the evolution of the institution.
Technical Data
- Author: MONTERO-DIAZ, JULIO; GALDON CABRERA, MARI
- Publisher: EDICIONES RIALP S.A.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CHRISTIANITY
- Collection: BOOKS ABOUT OPUS DEI
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: February 2024
- Number of pages: 502
- Weight: 702 g
Editorial Review
A research work that sheds light on a key foundational period. Its focus on the female protagonists offers a novel perspective within the bibliography on Opus Dei. Documentary rigor and historical contextualization make it a useful reference both for the specialized reader and for those who wish to understand the origins and social evolution of the institution.