St Dominic in St Peter's Basilica |
"How can an 800 year-old Religious Order be relevant in this ‘post-modern’ world?"
Because St Dominic, in
founding the Order of Preachers in the early 13th century, built it on the
great rocks of perennial significance:
- Zeal and action for the salvation of souls
- Fidelity to the Doctrine of the Church
- Witnessing to Truth and integrity of the Gospel
- Living a monastic life-style in harmony with Catholic tradition.
Who will say that in our days, souls are not being lost; that the Church is not being scorned and ignored; that religious lies and heresy are not rampant and that millions of people are not ‘chasing the wind’ of materialism and false ideologies?
The attacks upon humanity, as seen in the assaults upon the dignity of male and female, the family and marriage, the unborn, disabled and the elderly..., these evils stem from errors which can only be dissolved by TRUTH.
THE DOMINICAN CHARISM
What are the features of the way of life laid down by St Dominic?
The attacks upon humanity, as seen in the assaults upon the dignity of male and female, the family and marriage, the unborn, disabled and the elderly..., these evils stem from errors which can only be dissolved by TRUTH.
THE DOMINICAN CHARISM
What are the features of the way of life laid down by St Dominic?
Monastic Observance:
The Dominican lives under the discipline of
Monastic Observance deliberately chosen by St Dominic as the context for his
Order with its round of prayer and preaching. The discipline of the common life
and the daily routine of monastic-type silence, prayer and devotional practices
creates an environment in which contemplation is possible, fraternal charity
can flourish and God’s will can be wholeheartedly pursued.
Study and the Intellectual Life:
The Order was established by the Church as an order
of preachers. St Dominic built into the legislation of the Order
conditions which would both demand and facilitate life-long study for each of
its members - not study for its own sake but study of the things of God and of
all knowledge that may deepen and enrich human experience and bring about the
salvation of souls.
Liturgical Life:
The celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is counted
among the chief functions of the Dominican vocation. St Dominic was a
man of the Church and his whole spiritual thrust was a liturgical one. He has
built into the fabric of his Order’s legislation and customs his love for the
full and dynamic celebration of Divine Liturgy.
Apostolate:
The Dominican is called to be an apostle, preaching
the Gospel by word, but more especially by personal example and witness. The
Church has always taught that the prayer, penance and witness of a religious
man or woman is his or her primary apostolate.
This is especially true for the Dominican. St.
Dominic knew, rightly, that the effectiveness of the external work of preaching
depended on the true spirituality and integrity of life of the preacher.
So, prayer, study, preaching, liturgy, monastic
observance, community and the apostolate of preaching: the essence of Dominican
life and spirit consists largely in an ordered integration of all these
elements.
The Conventual Sisters of St Dominic see their fidelity
to the Dominican charism as a sacred charge and duty, and cherish the life of
the Holy Spirit and their Founder in their midst.