"Youth, Opus Dei's project for young people, launches new websiteLay, celibate, of Opus Dei: "What makes you most happy is that the whole Church is salt and light for society".Layman, married, belongs to Opus Dei: "It reminds me that I can do something great with my life".Almudena Alonso is 26 years old, the same age at which Saint Josemaría Escrivá founded Opus Dei, to which she belongs as a member. supernumerary.
Almudena is married, the mother of a daughter and, in the coming months, her second child will be born. This young professional, hard-working woman of this century lives her vocation at home, with her friends and colleagues with the naturalness of young people, trying to be a "sower of peace and joy", as she says.
How does a young mother live the charism of Opus Dei today?
-In the middle of the world, now more than ever! Every day, in the street, at work, I try to be close to everyone and always put an extra good vibe. To transmit that little bit of light and joy that can change the course of the day. And at home, giving many thanks for the gifts you have given us, always with open doors, so that no one feels left out!
That they can count on us to have a good time, with a beer in hand, but also to find comfort if they need it. And starting over every day, without losing hope, because, thank God, we are not perfect... In the end, that's what it's all about, making every day something new, that's where we are!
What is it about the charism of Opus Dei that most strikes you or what do you most identify with?
-I identify very much with that spirit of "being sowers of peace and joy", which is not an easy task, especially considering that we have to try to do it every day at all times, and the work, the fatigue, sometimes weigh down..... But yes, it seems to me a message that has a lot of depth.
As in any harvest, you have to wait to see the fruits, and the same thing happens with sowing peace and joy... Maybe in your daily life you don't see a great change, but maybe in a while you can see the effect of God's hand.
You, as an instrument, are His seed, and He, as the sower, places you here and there, as He wishes, sometimes without you understanding why, so that you may give peace and joy wherever you are. In time, there will be the fruits! You may not be able to see them, but what a joy to know that He trusts you for that.
What do you apply the training you receive and how does it help you in your day-to-day work?
-All of them! The lights that you receive through the training are so many that I could not choose just one..... From work to rest management, because it is just as important to do things right as it is to know when to stop and take a break to get back to work "with the batteries on" for everyone.
The training helps me a lot to manage family issues, which are the most vertiginous ones. Especially now that we are wearing the "L" because, after a year and a half of marriage, we already have 3 members at home and we have another one on the way, and it is very important to lay the foundations well!
In friendship, it helps me not to lose sight of the fact that you always have to be there, a WhatsApp, a call... I wouldn't know how to choose just one thing. I apply training to everything!
How do you explain your Christian life to people around you who do not share it?what makes you happiest?
-I tell them that I am 26 years old, that I am married and that I am pregnant with my second child and they look at me like I am crazy! (laughs) But I love that, because that is what I am: crazy! When they hear it and get to know me, when they realize that this is what really fulfills me and makes me happy, they understand and respect it a lot.
It's not that I go around telling the four winds how I live my life because, to tell the truth, I'm not an example of anything. But if they know you, in the end, they ask... and you have no choice but to show your face (laughs).
The truth is that many times we are afraid to show our background, but I think we should do it more, because the response from others is much better than we expect. We have to jump into the pool.
