Probably You are an Apostle

Give Your  Radiance to Someone

We are living in a world of doubt. People do not believe in anything until they are verified. They want to see, touch, taste and feel the things before they believe something to be true. This world of doubt can be attributed to St. Thomas the apostle. When other apostles shared what they saw, felt and experienced about the Risen Lord, Thomas did not believe. He said “Until I have seen in his hands mark of the nails and my hands in his side, I will not believe (Jn 20:25).” Thomas could not imagine that Jesus could come in through locked doors and thick walls moreover; he could not believe that man who is crucified to death could rise and come alive. It was unbelievable mystery for Thomas. His reaction was such that the other apostles were speechless and unable to convince him of the truth.

The fact that doubting Thomas is the apostle of Jesus shows us that Thomas had a unique place with the Lord. Therefore we should not be disappointed when we come across people those who doubt the existence of God, the power and work of God. We need to remember that they too have a unique place with the Lord. We should not be ashamed to talk to them about Jesus Our Lord. We should be like apostles who talked about Jesus. The follower of Christ we should testify Christ before others irrespective of their responses, with the belief that God will look after the result. We see prophet Jonah just had to go to Nineveh and proclaim “forty days more Nineveh will be destroyed.” (Jon 3:4) all the rest God did.

After testifying apostles were unable to respond to Thomas’ doubt. Later we see Jesus himself takes over the situation when he appeared again after eight days. He called Thomas and cleared all his doubt. The inner eye of Thomas was opened and was able to see the glory of God. As a change of heart he exclaimed “my Lord and my God” (Jn 20:28). The word of God calls every disciple of Jesus to testify freely the God experience. When we share our God experience with others God already starts working with the person we are sharing.

 One of my friends said to me “I am still a Catholic and believe in God only because of my father’s testimony of God experience”. He said that, he had no faith in God and was living an atheistic life. He trusted in science and believed only in scientific verifications. He was a critic of religion and their practices. He doubted the existence of God. His father was a captain in the ship. One day his father came drunk and began to talk to him about his God experience in a ship. His father used to read bible before going to sleep. On that particular day when he was about to go to bed he opened the bible to read but there was a strong urge in him to go and wash himself. Half heartedly as he was going towards the washroom he heard the sound of bullets hitting to the window. A bullet came and touched his face without making a deep wound. The pirates had attacked the ship. In friction of time they were inside his room. Immediately he had to surrender them. Finding no precious thing on the ship they went away. After narrating this incident his father went in and brought a bible which was torn by the bullet. He removed out a portrayal of Jesus from the bible pointing out the hole made by the bullet on the chest of Jesus, he said to him, “Today you have a father because my Lord took a bullet on him”. This changed my friend completely, from then he believes that Jesus is God and saviour.  

His father testified his God experience to his son. It was a living experience. Through his God experience God transformed his son. God calls every one of us to be courageous and share his experience in our life to others. We shall share our Lord to everyone irrespective of their religion, position, gender etc. believing that God is already at work in them and transform their life.

An elderly priest said to me acknowledging the power of God in his life “I do Gods work and rest things follow itself.” The word of God says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my father in heaven” (Mt 10: 32). Therefore let us take courage to testify our God experience with others irrespective of their position in the society. We need to respect all because everyone has a unique place with the Lord. Apostles have given us a good example to follow. They were not ashamed to share their experience to others. In the Gospel according to St. Mark we read the words of Jesus, “I tell you; if anyone is ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinful people, the son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels. (Mk 8: 38).

We all pray that God will give us his grace not to be ashamed of him but to proclaim him to others in full conviction and faith. 

Br Amresh DSouza OP

He gave me courage

It was dark,
All around it was dark.
Yet I said, I saw everything clearly.

It was dark,
not the darkness of night,
but the darkness of error.

Yes, truly it was dark,
then he (Dominic) came with the light of truth.

He gave me courage; to open my eyes to light

It was dark.....
he kept me awake in the dim candle light
awaking me into the dawn.
There the splendour of truth shines,
brighter  than the Rising Sun.

It was dark,
I feared to see the light.
Darkness was a comfort....!
Courage to open my eyes,
that was  all I needed.
His compassion crushed my fear.

It was dark,
now I see that it was all bright.
I place myself on lamp-stand.
Christ shines -  the Eternal Light!
Oil keeps burning - the love of my heart.
It is bright light.

It is all bright light.

frs Joe Deepak and Livin

Dominic: An Example of Prayer

ST. DOMINIC’S NINE WAYS OF PRAYER

            St. Dominic’s ways of prayer stirred the curiosity of his brothers.  It is said that they would watch him pray.  They did so from an upper window. They saw what was recorded as Dominic’s nine ways of prayer, nine different postures or gestures.  They often heard him recite or cry out the words of scripture.  The nine ways are uncommon to our present time; therefore a brief preface may be helpful. From a historical perspective, there emerged in the late 12th century Church in Spain a religious group that had a great influence upon the people.  Their belief that the body was evil and that the soul was good was preached in word and action.  This religious group was very austere, and self-punishing.  Some of Dominic’s ways of prayer were reflective of that thinking. From a philosophical perspective, the Dominican Thomas Aquinas taught that certain attitudes and gestures of the body can dispose us for prayer and, conversely, that intense prayer can burst forth in a bodily expression. From a psychological perspective, Sister Catherine Aubin, author of On Praying With the Body, According to St. Dominic, suggests that when one loves, that love is manifested with gestures, words, smiles.  This also happens in prayer.From a biblical anthropological perspective, Aubin recalls that specific, dynamic functions are given to the different parts of the body.  For example, the neck may symbolize the place of honor, of weight, but also of affection or humility; hence, the bow.  It is within these various contexts that we examine Dominic’s nine ways of prayer.

 THE FIRST WAY OF PRAYER IS THE BOW

            In the Dominican Tradition,there are three forms of this gesture:the simple bow of the head,a bow from the shoulders, and the profound bow from the waist.

             Early drawings of Dominic at prayer before the altar of the crucified Christ show him bowing profoundly.  Various texts say that standing erect; Dominic bowed his head and humbly considered the bowed head of the crucified Christ.  He humbled himself before the Christ who took on the humiliation of the cross.  And the brothers would hear him praying:  “I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.” [Mt 8:8]

            “I have been humbled before you exceedingly, Oh Lord.” [Ps 118:107]“Oh, Lord, God, the prayer of the humble and meek has always pleased you.” [Jd 9:16]Dominic taught the brothers to humble themselves before the crucified Christ and to humble themselves before the Trinity as they chanted the Glory Be.  This same gesture continues in some Dominican congregations today.

IN THE SECOND WAY OF PRAYER

            Dominic laid face down, outstretched on the floor. It was said that he assumed this posture when overtaken with great sorrow, and he wept.  Sometimes in a voice loud enough to be heard, he would pray, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” [Luke 18:13]

            Dominic prayed with his entire body. This is how Dominic taught his brothers to pray for God’s mercy.

             He further admonished, “If you cannot weep for your own sins, weep for the sins of others.”  In this way Dominic called upon God’s mercy for all.

            Rising to his knees from prostration as described in the second way of prayer, Dominic would scourge himself with an iron chain. 

THIS THIRD WAY OF PRAYER was one of repentance. We need to remember the context of the time in which Dominic lived which provides an understanding of what would now appear an unacceptable form of prayer.

            In memory of his example, the Order decreed that all the brothers should receive the discipline with wooden switches upon the shoulders.  This was to be practiced on days without feasts while bowing and reciting, “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; …wipe out my offenses.” [Miserere, PS 51]; or, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!” [De Profundis, Psalm130] 

            The scourging was done in repentance for the brother’s own faults and for the faults of others.

            Humility, mercy and self-discipline characterize Dominic’s first three ways of praying.

THIS FORTH WAY OF PRAYER

            Genuflection became Dominic's fourth way of prayer.And in these postures a change would come over him and he would feel great confidence in God’s mercy toward himself, toward his brothers, toward all sinners.  He could sometimes be heard murmuring, “Unto you will I cry, O Lord:  O my God, be not silent to me…” [Ps. 27:1]

            At other times he would remain in silent genuflection and it appeared as though a great joy brought him to tears.  Then again he would rise and again kneel.  It became Dominic’s intimate and personal form of worship.  He taught his brothers to pray in this way by his example as he prayed this way not only in his room but also as he traveled.

            Dominic, sometimes called “athlete of Christ,” prayed in ways that were physically demanding, physically disciplined.  And he prayed with great grace and agility.

THE FIFTH WAY OF PRAYER

            In the way fifth of praying, Dominic stood with his hands held before him as if reading from a book. It is said that he stood in such reverence as if to be reading the very presence of God.

            He would then for a time clasp his hands together; at other times he would raise his hands as the priest does at liturgy.  It appeared as though Dominic stood as a prophet who first spoke with God, listened deeply to God’s response and then lingered in silent thought of what had been revealed to him.

THE SIXTH WAY OF PRAYER

            In the sixth way of prayer, Dominic stood with outstretched arms, in the form of a cross.  It is said that he prayed in this way in anticipation of a miracle that God would perform.

            This is the way Dominic entreated God when a boy was raised to life in the Church of St. Sixtus in Rome, when Dominic himself was raised from the ground at the celebration of the Mass, and when a group of pilgrims was delivered from drowning in a river near Toulouse.  So struck were those who observed this form of prayer that they failed to remember what Dominic said.

            Dominic, in this reverent supplication, seemingly knew God’s intent to bring forth from the death of the cross, new life.  “I stretched forth my hands to thee…Hear me speedily, O Lord.”  Ps. 142:1-7)

            In this imitation of Christ on the Cross, Dominic inspired the brethren but he neither encouraged nor discouraged them to pray in this manner.

THE SEVENTH WAY OF PRAYER

            The seventh way of prayer was supplication where Dominic’s whole being was seen as an arrow directed heavenward shot from a bow. 

Raised above his head, Dominic’s hands were either joined together or slightly parted as if to be receiving something from heaven. In this way Dominic acknowledged that all good gifts are from God.

             While in this posture Dominic seemed to enter into a state of bliss, and upon regaining his temporal awareness would pray, “Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication which I pray to thee, when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple.”  (Ps. 27:2)

THE EIGHTH WAY OF PRAYER, reflective reading, might be described as Dominic in table conversation with the Word.

            Dominic would go off to some quiet place and seated at a table he would sign himself and begin to read a book. Shortly it seemed that he was discussing something with a friend; he appeared at once to be listening quietly then discussing and arguing, and then laugh and weep, and then bow and speaking quietly beat his breast. It was as though Dominic found God in some way speaking to him through the words he read.

            Dominic, it is said, appeared to move from reading to prayer, from prayer to meditation, from meditation to contemplation.Recall when recently something you read moved you to prayer.What would you require in order to bring your daily reading into conversation with God?  Try this form of prayer!

 THE NINTH WAY OF PRAYER, praying on the journey, is walking in solitude. As Dominic and his companions traveled by foot from country to country, he would remove himself from their company and walk by himself. This was meditative time for Dominic.  It was time for him to meditate upon the scriptures and commune with the Holy Spirit.  About his long solitary walk he would quote to his companions: “I will lead her (my spouse) into the wilderness and I will speak to her ear.” (Hosea 2:16)  This was preparation for Dominic’s holy preaching.Walk.  Alone.  Listen to the sounds of your environment—planes flying overhead, cars in distant traffic, sounds of industry.  Turn your focus to the sounds of nature—birds chirping, leaves fluttering in the wind, crickets.  Move your attention to the sound of your footsteps, your breathing, the sensation of your heartbeat. Walk now into the deepest part of yourself and listen.

WHY DO WE NEED TO PRAY?

            First, when we call ourselves Christians this means that we are taking upon us the name of Christ and trying to be like Him. When Christ was on the earth He set an example for us by praying. He prayed for guidance, He prayed for his disciples and followers, He prayed in gratitude and praise, He prayed when he instituted the sacrament, when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, and when He was on the Cross. So, if we are calling ourselves Christian, and becoming like Christ, then we should pray, as He did. (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, John 17:11, John 17:20-21, Luke 10:21, Mark 14:22, Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:44, Matthew 27:46).

            Prayer is indeed our opportunity to come to know God and build a relationship with Him. However, I think it is critical to understand that in order to build that relationship we must understand that prayer requires two-way communication. Building a relationship with God is similar to building relationships with people around us, conversations need to go both ways; we talk, and then we listen. It is the same with God. Prayer allows us the opportunity to tell God how we are feeling, ask for guidance, assistance and answers to questions, but it also is our opportunity to learn from Him what His will is for us. HOW we discern His will for us will be another blog post.

            Another reason for prayer is for the purpose of repentance. Christ atoned for our sins so that we can be worthy and pure when we enter into God’s presence. Only He can grant us forgiveness for the sins that we have committed. Prayer is a means for confessing our sins. The Lord has promised us that “I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts” (D&C 61:2).

            We can also pray and ask God to help us find purpose in our lives. He has a plan for us and desires to lead and guide us. I know from experience that when I have humbled myself in prayer and offered myself as a tool for Him to use, God has guided me and directed me in making life plans and decisions. He has even given me purpose that gets me through performing the mundane and seemingly purposeless tasks of daily life.

            Finally, I think one of the most important purposes of prayer is to bring our will into correspondence with God’s will. I think that many people pray and then become upset when their prayers are not answered. Even though God loves us, it is not always His will nor is it possible for Him to give us the things that we desire. I have a friend who prayed for a unicorn every day for quite a while when she was a child, but not surprisingly, she never got one. Was this because she lacked faith? I don’t really think so. If you aren’t receiving answers to your prayers, or your prayers aren’t answered in the way that you want them to be answered, maybe you need to evaluate what you are praying for and instead ask God what you should be praying for.

Application of Dominic's personal prayers today

St Dominic used 9 ways of prayer. Some of his prayers are still followed by us even today. At  the same time some of them are not practical to follow in this generation like scourging and sleeping over the bricks etc..

St Theresa of Avila says" I cannot give to others what I don't have."  The God experience can be passed on to others only after your experience of divinity of Jesus. people do not look for plain messages from you but they expect to share your experience with them. Or we will be like empty vessels which makes lot of noise.

Some of us may feel that we don't get sufficient time to pray or we are pre occupied with lot of things. Brothers, please do not make compromise in your personal prayer. How do a plant need water to grow , in the same manner personal prayer is necessary for the growth of our spirituality. St Dominic never insisted his brethren to follow his method of prayers. But we adopted those forms of prayers after seeing the goodness in his prayers.

All of us have come from different back grounds. Our taste and preference varies from each other. No one can enforce on you a particular type of personal prayer. But we must find our own ways to pray to our God . he is not a God who will punish  if you don't pray . Our God is a personal God who loves each one of us a lot. So we can adopt any method of prayer to communicate to him. The roads may vary but all of us are trying to reach the same destination.

There are times we are lost in thought during our community prayers, at times it is more mechanical, but the desire within us to pray , bring each one of us close to our lord through personal prayer. In our own community we can see different forms of personal prayer. Some of us prefer to pray late night, some like to pray early in the morning, some prefer to walk and pray some like to pray sitting on the ground, etc... there are also brothers who want to spend time in chapel late night but  some of them fail in their efforts. They fall asleep in the presence of the Lord. Samuel was called by the Lord when he was sleeping  in the temple of  the Lord. The attempt and the effort the person make is more important to God than the outcome of our efforts. Our master Fr. Sunoj is a good example for each one of us as he prays rosary while traveling by bike. He also encourages brothers to pray rosary when they cycle to college.

We may complain at times that "Due to our busy schedule I don't get time to pray". Remember brethren if you have a will there is a way. Our God does not observe how long do I spent in chapel. But he looks at our heart to see how faithful are we in our duties towards God and to our brethren.

Compiled and presented by Brs. Jinson and Nithin

Mission of the Friars Preachers

We all of us belong to different families from which we have come. We all have our family names and we may speak about the greatness of our family names - from where it has come, what it means and number of members of the family. This is our human family.

We have our spiritual family as well. We are adopted sons of God and this is our spiritual family. Let us analyze Jesus' family. If look at the genealogy of Jesus we can make out Jesus did not come from a generation of pure holy men who never committed sin. Great figures in the genealogy like Abraham, Jacob  (who stole blessings), King David (who committed adultery) all committed sin yet God planned to bring a saviour through them which means God can bring something good from the bad . From the difficulties of our life something good can come.  We see in Bible God calling many ordinary men and giving them the mission of salvation of souls. God called ordinary men like Aaron, Moses, Jonah, who felt they are unfit   to preach and do the work of God. But God made them fit.

In the New Testament we see Jesus giving authority to the apostles to preach.... In Mt. 28.19 we read... Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

And successors of apostles carry on this mission. God choose St. Dominic also to continue this mission. He preached against the heretics and saved many souls.

We know our purpose of life is to save our own souls and then strive also to save other souls as well. If we do both our reward is greater. And this is Dominican mission as well; salvation of souls through preaching. We being in the family of St. Dominic have an obligation to preach for the salvation of souls. Let us thank God Almighty for our vocation and as we are students here let us prepare ourselves in this direction.

Br.Roshan

Dominican Spirituality: A Constant Search for Truth

        We all wonder when we hear about Dominican Spirituality.  What is it? If we take in general sense Dominican Spirituality is something to do with seeking for Truth. Dominican Spirituality is a unique way of seeking the truth in a Dominican way. Dominican Spirituality includes Devotion to Crucifix, Word of God, Rosary etc. Dominican Spirituality in itself may not be found as something separately existing but it is something that is adapted and learnt from others. Dominican Spirituality is supposed to be seen in the life of every Dominican. For example in their unique way of studying, praying, mediating, sharing, caring, celebrating the Divine Office, community life, vows, celebrating Mass, preaching, work etc. something that is, has an end, the end of our preaching is for the salvation of souls which is the chrism of the order, and to achieve this we have 4 broad means. They are: vows, community life, celebrating of Divine Office and prayer and finally study that is the sacred Scripture of faith. Now let us deeply and briefly know what Dominican Spirituality is all about.    

        1. Dominican Spirituality has its base on Christian Spirituality that is witnessing the life, mission, passion, death and resurrection of Christ the Savior.

        2. It has its base on its commitment to the doctrinal teaching of the Church

        3. Contemplate and share the fruit of contemplation.

a. contemplation: (mystical experience) prayer: community prayer+ personal prayer, Study of sacred Scripture of faith. Vows, community life, meditation and ultimately the search and study of the Truth. The great contemplatives of our order are: Catherine of Siena, Martin De Pores, St. Dominic.                                     

b. Preaching: that is the active apostolate. i. e. sharing the fruit of contemplation.  Preaching for the salvation of souls is the reason why St. Dominic founded the order of preachers and the preaching is the main chrism of the order. The Dominican Preaching includes first seeking the Truth and then preaching or defending the Truth, that is what the early Dominicans did. whenever the Truth was sought the Dominicans were available and found there to defend. And they contributed to the Church in terms of Truth in a large way, and that is what makes Dominicans unique and Dominican preaching too. for ex. St. Thomas Aquinas whom the Church still refers for her teaching on Dogmas, Doctrines.

        4. Virtue of Charity: St. Dominic preached that the virtue of Charity should be the highest virtue. That includes the Love of God and love of Neighbor.

        5. Dominican Spirituality  is the image of St. Dominic. That includes; plans, ideas of Dominic, his unique of following Christ. That includes manifest the intention of St. Dominic that is spirit of Dominic and develop his plans and ideas in modern  technique. 

          Whatever we do in line with the intention of St. Dominic and the church, everyone is unique to follow Christ. Let us adapt, as Dominicans, the spirit of Dominic using all modern teaching the methods available.

Compiled and presented by Brs. Dileep and Lorance

Dominic: Light of the Church, Doctor of Truth, Rose of Patience

“Lumen Ecclesiae; Light  of the Church''

He took the right course of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations, he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion" (Sirach. 49:2-3) of the Church”

St. Dominic was born in Spain, A.D. 1170. With the dawn of reason his whole soul turned to God. His childhood was most pious, and his youth angelic in purity. In the University of Palencia he was the model student. When twenty-five, he became a Canon Regular at Osma, and with the religious habit he put on the Lord Jesus Christ and strove in all things to imitate Him. His time was divided into prayer, study of Holy Scripture, and community duties. Silence and retirement were his delight; works of penance and tears of contrition his meat and drink. Going in 1205 to France, he spent many years in every kind of labour for the conversion of the Albigensian heretics. Like Jesus Christ he passed the day in apostolic work, the night in prayer. His penance was extreme, but to others he was gentle, sweet and kind. Many were converted by his miracles, many, by the example of his holy life. Six times he journeyed to Rome, once to Spain, once to Paris, walking barefoot, praying or singing on the road, preaching in the towns and villages, spending the nights in contemplation. He founded in 1215 the Order of Friars Preachers for the conversion of souls. He was a man of truly apostolic heart, a column of the faith, a trumpet of the Gospel, the light of Christ to men. He died at Bologna in 1221.

"DOCTOR VERITATIS, DOCTOR OF TRUTH”

"Make your own mind, the mind of Christ, Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped at. But He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross." (Phil. 2:5-8)

Humility is the foundation of perfection, and in St. Dominic it was deep and strong. So clear was his knowledge of the deep majesty of God and his own nothingness that he lived always in lowly fear and self-distrust. Though most innocent, he considered himself to be a base sinner, unworthy of the least grace. Constantly he prostrated himself before God, praying for long with his face on the ground, shedding abundant tears. Often he would strike his breast, exclaiming, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Before entering a town to preach, he used to kneel down on the road, begging God not to punish the people for his sins but to make his labour fruitful. When 4passing an altar or crucifix he would bow profoundly, in token of his nothingness. He often said with tears, "I am not worthy to behold heaven on account of my sins." Praise and honour he heartily detested, and thrice refused a bishopric. Once he raised the son of a Roman widow to life, and the Pope ordered the wonder to be published. "Holy Father," said Dominic, "I must fly; I can remain here no longer." At the General Chapter he said to his brethren, "I deserve to be deposed from my office, for I am negligent and relaxed." When asked where he would be buried, "Under the feet of my brethren," said the humble saint. The saints, though great in virtue, look upon themselves as worthless, because they see themselves in the light of God, and knowing Him they know themselves. "Our righteousness," St. Dominic would say, "when compared to the righteousness of God, is mere uncleanness." "Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls." (St. Matthew 11: 29.)

"ROSA PATIENTIA, ROSE OF PATIENCE”

"Those who fear the Lord do their best to please Him, and those who love Him will find sanctification in the law. Those who fear the Lord keep their hearts prepared and humble themselves in His presence. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord and not into any human clutches; for as His majesty is, so too is His mercy." (Sirach 2:20-

Though so pure that Holy Church calls him "Ivory of Chastity," and Christian art puts a lily into his hands, Dominic was always weeping over sin. His soul being full of contrition, acts of sorrow were constantly upon his lips. On seeing towns or villages, he used to weep over the sins committed there against God. Though so cheerful with others, in his prayers he shed many tears. But this sorrow was not merely hidden in the soul, it bore fruit in works of penance. Thrice every night he scourged himself to blood: once for his own sins, once for those of others, once for the suffering souls. His fasts were strict and continual; even when travelling over Europe on foot, he fasted from September till Easter, though preaching daily. For ten years he tasted no wine, and afterwards, by order of superiors, only a few drops in water. He never had a room or bed of his own, but slept anywhere, on the ground, a bench, the altar-step. He was tightly girded with an iron chain, only found after his death. Being a zealous lover of rule, he punished faults severely, but with such fatherly love that penance was sweet from his hands. "If you have no sins of your own to weep for," St. Dominic would say, "still weep, after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, and grieve for the sinners of the world, that they may repent." "No one who does not carry his cross and come after Me can be My disciple." (St. Luke 14:27.)

 Compiled and presented by Brs. Vijay and Ajith

The Dominican Life Reflecting the Image of St. Dominic

The Dominican Life Reflecting the Image of St. Dominic:

 Reflections in Preparation for the feast of St. Dominic

We imitate St. Dominic because he is an example in the imitation of Jesus Christ and walked in his footsteps. Therefore every Dominican is also called to imitate Jesus in his life through the spirit of St. Dominic. The Christian can most effectively learn how to live in holiness by learning from the life of Christ. In the same way a Dominican can best learn how to live as a saintly religious by studying the life of St. Dominic, the Founder of the Order of Friars Preachers.

1 Sources to know about St. Dominic

Most precious in learning the mind and spirituality of St. Dominic are ‘The Acts of his canonization process’, ‘The Little Book of the Origins of the Friars Preachers’ by Jordan of Saxony, ‘The Primitive Constitutions’, Two types of witnesses for his canonisation and Nine ways of prayer.

The witnesses in the canonization process of St. Dominic are divided into two groups

The first group is the larger numbered about three hundred men and women of the Toulouse region who had known him during the years before he founded the Order;

The second group counted only nine friars who had been intimately associated with him during the last few years of his life.

The relationship of these nine friars with the saint had been extremely close. All of them were part of the community at Bologna, his headquarters during his closing years, and they had been his travelling companions. They had every opportunity to see how he lived, prayed, ate, slept, did penance and suffered. Their testimony gives us the best and the most detailed information about Dominic’s heroic life. Both these nine friars and Jordan of Saxony had walked with him, prayed with him, nursed him in sickness, buried him, worked for his canonization, and first celebrated his feast. They captured Dominic’s spirit, understood what he wanted for his Order, knew from his words and example how a friar preacher was to sanctify himself.

2 Spiritual characteristics of St. Dominic

Growing into the image of Dominic we focus on his priestliness, his love for Christ, his love for Eucharist, his love for the scripture, his love for the salvation of souls and his love for his brethren.    

Priestliness: One of his outstanding characteristics was his priestliness. St. Dominic’s priestliness shines in his love for the doctrines of the Church, his personal love for Our Lord in the Mass and the Blessed Sacrament, his penances in imitation of the Suffering Christ, his love for souls, his ability to give advice and counsel, his trust in Divine Providence.  As canon of the cathedral chapter at Osma, where he made profession soon after his ordination to the priesthood and afterwards again he continued his studies. He was a contemplative priest, lovingly seeking to penetrate the truths of the faith with the assistance of the gifts of wisdom and understanding, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The doctrines of revelation had penetrated to the very core of Dominic’s spiritual fibre before he became an apostle. When he was ready for this next step in his life, divine guidance carried him to southern France where he spent twelve years of his priestly life, from 1205 to 1217, defending and preaching the faith.

His love for Christ: St. Dominic’s love for Christ appears in his prayer. According to Jordan of Saxony, “he gave the day to his neighbour, the nights to God.” He spent all night in church, praying. Dominic’s devotion to Our Lord carried his soul into the depths of the mystery of the Passion. Many of the witnesses, both at Toulouse and Bologna, testify that he spent almost all the night in prayer. During this prayer, he was so moved that he often prayed aloud. Rudolph of Faenza  testifies that St. Dominic used to pray and make reparation for sinners saying, “O Lord, have mercy on Thy people . And Jordan of Saxony says that St. Dominic “was a sanctuary of compassion” where “he offered God, all human misery.” 

His love for Eucharist: The founder had a profound devotion to the Mass, celebrating it every day and when it is possible, singing it. Invariably he was so moved by the sacred mystery taking place before him, that the tears flowed down his cheeks. Little wonder that he made the Order of Preachers a liturgical order. One of the great means he set for the realization of the Order’s end is the solemn chanting of the Divine Office; because The Office flows from the Mass and it is the climax of the liturgy. The Mass is the diamond, the Office is its setting. The hours of the Office lead to the Mass and follow from the Mass; preparing for it and bringing us its fruits the rest of the day.

His love for the scripture: St. Dominic constantly carried the Gospel of St. Matthew and the Epistles of St. Paul. but it was a different problem in those days of handwritten books. Because Manuscripts were bulky and expensive. If they were small, the handwriting had to be almost microscopic. Dominic carried the books he loved best; the ones that spoke most clearly to him of Our Divine Saviour. Jordan of Saxony says that he read these works so much that he practically knew them by heart.

His love for the salvation of souls: Those who knew Dominic tell us that he wanted to give his life for souls, if necessary. With courage he travelled through the Albigensian country. At times he knew his enemies were planning to kill him, yet he continued on his way. Once they took him, but seeing that he offered no resistance, they asked: “What would you have done, if we were to carry out our plans?” he answered them "I would have begged you to put me to death in the slowest possible way, to cut me to pieces bit by bit, so that my martyrdom would be prolonged for the good of souls.” But seeing his willingness to die for Christ, they did not kill him. This incident signifies that he was a martyr by desire.

His love towards his own brethren: As a good priest, St. Dominic was firm in correcting. This might seem a peculiar illustration of priestliness, but correction is a great charity to an earring soul. Rudolph of Faenza describes this quality of Dominic: He was always cheerful and pleasant, a comforter of the brethren. He was patient, merciful, and kind. If he saw a brother breaking any rule, he would pass by as though he had not seen it. But afterward he would, with a mild expression and kind word, say, “Brother, you must confess your fault.” With his gentle words he induced all to confess and repent. He rigorously punished transgressors, but they went away consoled because of his humble attitude. He made the necessary correction with firmness, with an adequate penance, but knowing how delicately a soul must be treated, he did not break the man’s spirit. Paul of Venice testifies that St. Dominic rigidly and perfectly kept the rule himself and exhorted and commanded the brethren to do the same, and he strictly punished offenders. Yet he reproved them with such patience and kindness that no one was ever upset or rebellious because of the correction.

3 The imitation of St. Dominic

Members of the Order should be well acquainted with St. Dominic and they should be always happy in his company, realizing how much he loves them.

St. Dominic as our founder, he devoted the last precious years of his life to establishing the Order, visiting the first priories and monasteries, supervising, directing, encouraging, and teaching the friars and nuns. Each Dominican must grow by promoting these qualities of St. Dominic in their daily   internal and external religious activities.   

St. Dominic always trusted in Divine Providence and it blessed him with a sympathetic heart and endowed him with the gift of directing his sons and guiding his daughters. In the same way every Dominican must have the heart to direct and guide his own fellowmen who live within the community as well as outside the community.

Dominicans can live their lives in a priestly manner, imitating the priestliness of their Founder, his love for the doctrines of the Church, for the suffering Christ, for the Mass and Blessed Sacrament, for souls, and his reliance on Divine Providence.

All Dominicans should nourish a tender devotion to their founder. So that they shall receive the ability to understand the Dominican life, to live it well and to be zealous for souls. They should go to him, for the grace of contemplation, and to live their Dominican life in worthy manner.

It is  said that  When the friars came sorrowfully to his deathbed, recommending themselves to his prayers, his reassuring words were: “Where I am going, I will be of more use to you than I have ever been on earth.”

All these elements help us reflect on his life and inspire us to promote brotherly love towards Jesus by loving each other and working for the salvation souls.

4 How can we become the image of St. Dominic?

We can become the image of St. Dominic in internal ways and   in external way

Internal way refers to the practises within us and within the community. They are like: our prayer life, community life, study of divine scripture and so on.

External way refers to the practises that take place outside the community. They are like: our ministries, pastoral visit, preaching and so on.

Keeping these two things in mind, let us look into our own life and question ourselves:-

How patient are we towards our brethren in correcting them and leading them to a right path?

How faithful are we to the teachings of the church, the sacraments, and liturgy?

Is our vocation is a specific end of our own order that is preaching for the salvation of souls?

Do our internal and external religious activities enable us to bring many more souls to Christ?    

As we are preparing for the solemnity of our founder St. Dominic, we make our efforts to make our life as the image of St. Dominic by imitating his virtues, his ideas, and his qualities in our day today life.

Compiled and presented by  Brs. Deepak and Alex

The Values of Dominican Life

The Values of Dominican Life:

 Reflections in Preparation for the feast of St. Dominic

1. PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION:

Prayer is a reference point through which we all better know God. The Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours are the essential elements of Dominican prayer. The gift of the Holy Rosary also has a special place in our life. Each friar must also embrace personal prayer, essential to our life and preaching.

Dominican motto is contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere, "to contemplate and hand on to others the fruits of contemplation," a phrase articulated by St. Thomas Aquinas. Prayerful contemplation was central to St. Dominic: he recognized that a strong spiritual life, a sound relationship with God, and the prayerful processing of information and experience were all necessary to the life of an active Christian and effective preacher. Without the nourishment that solitude provides, without the strength of conviction that prayer imparts, without the spiritual grounding that is derived from connecting with God, all study and action would lack meaning and truth.

2. COMMUNITY LIFE:

St. Dominic  knew that, while itinerant in their ministry, his preachers needed to have a place to come together for grounding and nourishment, a community to return to for prayer, study, and mutual support and encouragement. Community also provides an avenue for fostering interdependence and a means of shifting focus from self-centeredness to the promotion of the common good.

The integral nature of Dominican community life lies in the fact that the community continually shapes, supports and challenges each friar. More than just residences, a Dominican community (priory) is a home – a place where the friar lives, prays, recreates and continually encounters Christ in his brothers. Because of this, it is often the starting point for preaching.

3. STUDY:

            St. Dominic felt that his preachers needed to be grounded intellectually and theologically before setting off to share the Good News. Preaching had to focus on God’s mercy and love and needed to come from persons whose lives were firmly planted in the Word they proclaimed.

 Dominic sent his friars to the universities of the day to give them a solid foundation in logic and in theology. Dominic knew that this would not only ensure accurate teaching in the face of heretical challenges, but that a thorough knowledge of the Gospel also would stir a passion for justice.

 In addition, he was keenly aware of the need for his preachers to be actively involved with the common people. He believed that their association with others at the university would help them focus their preaching on the needs of the people. Study as an important component of the preaching mission remains a fundamental value for Dominicans today.

4. MINISTRY:

                All Christians are called to minister to others or are "sent on mission" by virtue of their baptism Since the Gospel compels the faithful to serve the needs of humanity, to act with compassion, and to advocate for justice. To the open heart, ministry provides an avenue for God's love and wisdom to mutually widen perspectives and broaden understanding. Ministry, then, is important not only for the work accomplished and word preached, but also in the search for truth.

Preaching the Word is our first priority.  Each friar is actively involved in preaching in one way or the other.. We take very seriously the honor and responsibility that come with preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our Dominican legacy calls us to preach the truth of the Gospel, first and foremost. Our lives of prayer, study and community provide the environment for Dominican preaching to grow and take root.

                                                       Compiled and presented by Brs.  Kamson  Teron & Prashant Pinto

Picturing My Unknown Story

The way we value our living in time is somehow bound to the metaphor we live by. Time creates and chains, but it is only through time we can be led into freedom. As we walk our life together, sustained by worthy reflections, moment to moment we creatively rewrite our story giving attention to many possible worlds. The most significant listening is to our own world which we reveal quite often in unspoken words.

Dust to Brain and Back to Dust! Where is My Soul?

All of the human capacities once attributed to the mind or soul are now being fruitfully studied as processes involving the brain, the rest of the nervous system and other bodily systems. Can we reduce the whole of our being into an array of neurons since mere nerve cells themselves may not comprehend the whole of what we experience and what we do? Yes truly we are clay but having a fire within. It is that heat of life that we are trying to understand and we realise that the clay itself is pyrogenic or biogenic. Meeting with the informations available from modern sciences it is a must to day to search for the deeper possibilities of matter. Based on such a reality alone we can understand our souls today. Keeping them in parallel with the neurological researches, we are trying neither to update nor to throw away our concept of soul but we are trying to absorb deepening meaning which our traditional soul must have been giving us, a deep meaning of relationality. It is not that the soul makes us capable of relating but soul is that capacity to relate. When did God breathe His life into the live dust seeing that humans were capable of holding that breath? Throughout the natural process of evolution in genetic, neurological and cognitive levels that humans underwent it was God’s breath that has been shaping them. So to identify a particular moment of transition to spiritual seems impossible. But we are sure that God breathes His Life into human being and He/She continues to become human being to its fullness of living. God in creating humanity made people with whom to interact and to breathe God’s life as we together make up one body. So our spirituality also concerns our relations to the natural world, our relations to other people, and finally our relation to our natural make-up (our proper acceptance of our limitations,including suffering)