In The Hell of Opus Dei the gripping inside story of an ex-cult member

This book is one of the first testimonies ever to describe the life of the members of Opus Dei from the inside. Opus Dei or 'The Work' was founded in 1928 by Mgr. Escrivá de Balaguer and shows many similarities with a sect. A system of 'fraternal corrections' governs in detail how members should present themselves and with whom they may associate, while the index, which the Catholic Church itself abandoned years ago, is constantly being supplemented to protect members from, among other things, seditious films. Life in this closed world is determined by the respect of 'norms' to be observed (about twenty tasks to be performed daily), the recruitment of new members (the only reason to have friends outside 'The Work') and formation (which is more like indoctrination). All this implies that the members have no freedom whatsoever and that they are completely subject to the will of their superiors.

At the age of twenty, French geography student Véronique Duborgel was recruited, almost without realizing it. Despite her growing discomfort, she remained part of this organization for thirteen years, which interfered extensively in her daily life and her private life. When Véronique Duborgel confided to two priests of Opus Dei that her husband belittled her and regularly beat her, she received the same answer both times: 'That's your cross; bear it!' One day, a member of the 'higher degrees' had the audacity to put women on the same level as dogs. For Véronique Duborgel, this was literally a breaking point: in March 1996, she gathered all her courage to break with 'The Work' after thirteen years of hell. But at a high price...