Strange wakes of Opus Dei ...

Strange wakes of Opus Dei ...

Recently, we received a question asking us why we refer to Opus Dei (formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei) as Opus Judei.  There are several reasons for this, the strongest being that many of the teachings of José María Escriba resemble Talmudic Judaism if not are borrowed from it. Below is one example of borrowing from Talmudic Judaism. The wakes of the founder of Opus Judei, José María Escriba, his successor, Álvaro del Portillo, and his successor, Javier Echevarría, are bizarre. Have you ever seen a Catholic laid out on a carpet on the floor? 

(click images to enlarge)

José María Escriba reclining on a carpet for his viewing.

Another view of José María Escriba laid out.

John Paul II came to Álvaro del Portillo’s wake which was carried out in the same manner.

Video of John Paul II visiting Álvaro del Portillo’s body

You guessed it, Javier Echevarría lays on the floor for his wake too!

Excerpt from Rabbinical Seminary textbook — Jewish rules of mourning — endorsed by chief rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni.

source: Regole ebraiche di lutto: appunti di un corso del 

Seminario D. Almagia, Carcucci Editore, Roma (1980), p. 17

“The uses concerning the care of the dead are marked with extreme simplicity. (M.C. p. 355) About 20 minutes after death, the body is stripped, covered with a white sheet and then [put] lying on the floor.” 

[English translation is CMJ’s], Jewish rules of mourning: notes of a course from the Seminary D. Almagia, p. 17.

Talmudic Jews reciting Kaddish over a dead body.

SOURCE