Farewell for II years

When shall we be together again ............

Enjoying to the full

From the skit ......................

Experts in the studio

With flying Music

May I lend your ears ................

Something is special

Logical Touch

In Logic we make a distinction between a “concept” which is also known as “mental term” and a “word” which is known as “oral term”. The oral term (word) has no value apart from the mental term (concept). Considered in itself it is only a sound. It is the concept which gives value to the word. These concepts are formed through the act of abstraction (derives from the words ab+trahare: to draw out) and there has to be a relationship between the object known and the knower. Without this relationship we cannot have a concept of an object. So the relationship is a necessary requirement to form a concept of an object.

One might wonder, has it anything to do with our life? I believe it has a very close connection with our Dominican life. The Dominican Order was basically founded for the purpose of preaching “the Word”. It is totally devoted to the evangelization of the Word of God. We, as sons and daughters of our holy father Dominic, have the responsibility to carry on this mission through our preaching. The words we use in our preaching will have no value unless they are preceded by the conviction. This conviction can come only through the Prayer, a constant relationship with the Lord. In spite of the best source having referred, if we do not have the conviction coming from our personal prayer, it is worthless.

We are told that Dominic spent the whole night with the Lord and the day with the people. He spoke with God and about God with the people. The time he spent before the Lord gave him the conviction to speak to the people. He knew what he was preaching. His words were so effective that they could soften a hardcore heretic. They were so powerful that they could convert the sinners and bring tears in the eyes of the stubborn. His successor Blessed Jordan of Saxony it was said that the parents locked up their children when he came to preach lest they not be seen again! Listening to Blessed Saxony the children would follow him leaving their homes. Such was his conviction that he drew from his prayer. These instances prove to us “the preached word do not merely communicate an abstract truth but can refashion lives and society” (In the Image of St. Dominic by Guy Bedouelle.O.P.)

The words we preach are meant to give life, because they come from breath. Breath signifies life. So they should be life giving. Besides, words are meant for others, so they should give life to others. As Jesus himself says, “I have come to give life and life in abundance” (John 10:10). The Indian Philosophy also asserts that the sound just reveals the word and disappears without making any difference to the listener whereas words have “shakti” (power) in them capable of having influence on the listeners. If the words we preach are not preceded by the conviction that we draw from prayer, then they will be as good as making sound which have no meaning at all!

                                                                                                                              Roshan Thomas II Phil 

The Four Pillars

Once a professor stood before his Philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty Mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked his students if the jar was full. They all agreed that it was.

               The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

The professor then poured two cups of water into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. He once again asked the students if the jar was full. The students shouted that it was.

            The above story would aptly imply to the “Four Pillars “of the Dominican Order.

The golf balls in the story would signify “the Prayer”. Being the First Pillar, Prayer is the foundation and source from which all other activities derive inspiration. The pebbles represent “the Study”, another important Pillar of the Order. A Dominican studies throughout his life. “The Community Life” is represented by the sand. Just as the sand holds the other items together in the story, so also the Community Life holds us together as one family. The Preaching is signified by the water. Preaching is not just by mouth alone but by the very persons we are.

Each item has to be placed in the jar in a proper order. If the water is poured into the jar first, then there will not space for any other items. So, is the case with sand and pebbles.

So, we have to follow right order in our Dominican way of Life. 

                                                                                                                             Roshan Thomas II Phil