In 1939, Escriva published a book to guide these converts called The Way. It remains an intriguing read. Arranged in 999 short fragments, each a saying or instruction, its tone is by turns intimate, fierce and stiffly formal. [snip]How to behave towards Opus Dei is another: "941 - Obedience [is] ... the sure way. Blind obedience to your superior ... the only way." "627 - Yours should be a silent obedience."
Those little dots caught my eye.
Look at the full quote from 941-942 in The Way and notice the change of words and concepts:
"Obedience, the sure way. Unreserved obedience to whoever is in charge, the way of sanctity. Obedience in your apostolate, the only way: for, in a work of God, the spirit must be to obey or to leave.
Bear in mind, son, that you are not just a soul who has joined other souls in order to do a good thing.
That is a lot, but it's still little. You are the Apostle who is carrying out an imperative command from Christ."
This is, and has been for 2,000 years, basic Catholic teaching. The evangelical virtue of obedience, opposing pride, is supreme in the life of holiness. Notice the last line, whereby obedience is ordered and granted to Christ.
It is no surprise that an anti-religious secular rag in Europe would oppose it and find it odd.
No surprise at all.
Obedience, the sure way. Unreserved obedience to whoever is in charge, the way of sanctity. Obedience in your apostolate, the only way: for, in a work of God, the spirit must be to obey or to leave.
This part of what you quoted doesn't appear to help your case. Calls for obedience to Christ I can at least understand (even though it might not always be easy to know what that entails). But calls for obedience to "whoever is in charge"? Do you really feel comfortable with that?