The thesis examines the work of Opus Dei, a personal prelature within the Roman Catholic Church. In particular it focuses on the very specific ways in which Opus Dei organizes the symbolic reality for its members, mainly through defining and interpreting the 'meaning of work'. The thesis draws upon extensive empirical material in order to explore the ways in which such definitions create meaning in the lives of Opus Dei members. The approach which has been adopted is in the ethnographic tradition. Since the subject of enquiry is a religious organization, parallels are made between ethnography and exegesis, more specifically to patristic (as opposed to scholastic) method of enquiry. The thesis uses a number of stylistic devices in order to communicate both the evolution and the developme~t of the organization and also, and perhaps more explicitly, to explain the epistemological journey of the researcher. In consequence, there are two emergent concerns which both locate the thesis and provide the primary contribution to knowledge. These are the ethnographic work itself which offers unique insights into an organization limited. The second, and arguably more significant, is the method of inquiry which refers to a tradition which deserves further attention. A more complete explanation of these issues is given below.

The aim of this study is to address the proposition that the spirituality of L'Arche has a great deal of potential to offer people with learning disabilities outside its own community setting. For chaplains who have the task of seeking to nurture and develop the spiritual lives of people with learning disabilities in schools, there exists the opportunity to draw out the fundamental characteristics of the spirituality of L'Arche and incorporate these into their own formation programs. The opportunity to be creative and imaginative in developing formation programs comes from within the context of legislation which requires schools to meet the spiritual needs of the children in their care. / Christian Spirituality / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

The aim of this study is to address the proposition that the spirituality of L'Arche has a great deal of potential to offer people with learning disabilities outside its own community setting. For chaplains who have the task of seeking to nurture and develop the spiritual lives of people with learning disabilities in schools, there exists the opportunity to draw out the fundamental characteristics of the spirituality of L'Arche and incorporate these into their own formation programs. The opportunity to be creative and imaginative in developing formation programs comes from within the context of legislation which requires schools to meet the spiritual needs of the children in their care. / Christian Spirituality / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)