March 2021 Vocation Office E-Newsletter

laudare, benedicere, praedicare TO PRAISE, TO BLESS, TO PREACH

March 2021 Photo: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

Reredos in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Rome

MARCH 2021

1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7 / THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 8 / St. John of God 9 / St. Frances of Rome 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Laetare Sunday) 15 / 16 / 17 / St. Patrick 18 / St. Cyril of Jerusalem 19 / SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / St. Turibius 25 / SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD 26 / 27 / 28 / PALM SUNDAY of the Lord's Passion 29 / Monday of Holy Week Celebrations from the 30 / Tuesday of Holy Week Dominican calendar 31 / Wednesday of Holy Week

appear in italics.

The Four Pillars of Dominican Life

Community Prayer

Apostolate

Study

p a r t ii

"... And Companions"

by Sister Michaela, O.P.

O

n almost every day of the calendar year, the Church offers us a Saint to celebrate, on some days she a Saintbutto celebrate, offers us tens or even hundreds! I’ve long but on some been fascinated by these countless, nameless saints we commemorate “companions.”

simply

as

You hear stories such as Paul Miki and companions, who sang a joyful Gloria in the face of martyrdom, or of Edith Stein and her companions, Jewish converts who zealously exercised their spiritual motherhood as they were sent to Auschwitz.

Seeing their example, we can’t help but think, “I want to be in that number!” In fact, we probably all sang that tune as children: “When the Saints go marching in…” And if we are, in fact, the company we keep then surrounding ourselves with others who aspire to be saints is a great step in the pursuit of holiness.

Saint Dominic saw this step as essential for his sons and daughters.

He made community life one of the pillars of Dominican spirituality. Through a life of common liturgical prayer, study, and work, we spur each other towards greater holiness. Following the example of Christ who sent His disciples out two-by-two, Dominic would send the brothers out to preach with a companion so that even a journey was lived with the strength and joy community.

But life with not-yet-saints can also be a challenge. When my imperfections rub up against my sisters’, it is uncomfortable.

We often compare it to a rock-tumbler in which each rough stone serves to polish the others until you are left with smooth and even radiant gems. This is the mystery and miracle of community. Our companions are a key part of our journey to heaven.

To put a twist on an old adage: There is sanctity in numbers. For a Dominican, it is community – far more than any city or convent – that is home. It is with our sisters that we share laughter, for our sisters that we sacrifice, and in our sisters that we encounter Christ. And so together we march this pilgrimage to heaven surrounded by the witness of so many great Dominican Saints who have gone before us. May we be in that number!

For a Dominican, it is community – far more than any city or convent – that is home.

MISSION SPOTLIGHT:

Frassati Catholic High School SPRING, TEXAS

(L to R): Sister Margaret Joseph, Sister John Vianney, Sister John Paul, and Sister Elizabeth Marie

OUR LITURGICAL LIFE

S

ince the earliest days of the Order of Preachers, Dominicans have ended Compline (Night Prayer) with the their chanted Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen) in their own unique solemn tone. They process around to the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary while chanting this beautiful supplication to Our Lady.

But few know the dramatic origins of this custom.

Salve,

Regina

After the death of St. Dominic in 1226, Bl. Jordan of Saxony was elected Master of the Order in Dominic's stead. While residing in the Order's priory in Bologna, he and his community suffered terribly from the assaults of the devil. One of the friars, Brother Bernard, was even possessed by a demon.

In their great need, the friars turned to their most gracious advocate, the Queen of Preachers and Mother of Mercy. Through her intercession, the demons departed. Bl. Jordan describes it:

"This cruel harassment of Brother Bernard was the first occasion that moved us to establish the custom of singing the Salve Regina after compline at Bologna. From there the practice spread through the province of Lombardy and eventually became general throughout the Order.

Permit me to sing your praises, Holy Virgin.

Give me strength against my enemies.

(Versicle and Response following the Salve)

How many tears of devotion have sprung from this holy praise of God's venerable Mother? How many hearts of those who sang or listened has it not melted, how often has it not softened bitterness and installed fervor in its place? Do we believe that the Mother of our Redeemer is pleased with such praises and moved by such cries?

A certain man, both religious and trustworthy, has told me that, in spirit, he often saw the Mother of our Lord prostrate before her Son praying for the security of the whole Order, as the friars were singing: 'Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us.'

I mention this so that the brethren reading it may be inspired to even greater devotion in praising the Virgin."

-BL. JORDAN OF SAXONY

Click here to listen to the sisters sing the

Salve Regina

From one of our finally professed sisters

Sr. Paulina Forster, O.P. My own story started twenty-eight years ago when I was born in Brasília, Brazil to Nestor and Maria Theresa Forster, who met in the Brazilian foreign service academy while training to become diplomats. Consequently, we moved a lot: to Bethesda, Maryland near Washington D.C., to Ottawa, Canada, and to San José, Costa Rica.

The gift of a religious vocation came as a surprise to me, as I was used to initiating and doing rather than receiving and being. I discerned a vocation as a Dominican Sister of Saint Cecilia while I was attending Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. The Lord gave me the grace to know that if I followed my own plans, I wouldn’t be as deeply happy and fulfilled. He also supplied the intense desire to be consecrated to His service and that of His Church.

Photo: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

"There is nothing left to lose when one has given all."

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord for the gift of making my final vows this past summer and for the great things He has done through me and will continue to accomplish, if I am faithful to the grace and love I have first received from God. One of the graces I have received is a greater spiritual freedom, since there is nothing left to lose when one has given all for the kingdom. May the Lord keep my heart poor so that I might always be fertile soil for His divine grace and proclaim to all the world that the Son of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is risen and victorious!

DISCERNING

God 's Will

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PRAYER

Set time aside each day for silent prayer.

During this time, share everything in your heart with God. Since He already knows us through and through, He often reveals us to ourselves during this kind of prayer.

Increase your devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

If possible in your area, attend daily Mass. You can also check parish websites to see when they offer times of Adoration and Benediction. During these Eucharistic moments, listen to Jesus tell you how much He loves you.

Read Scripture daily.

One of the best ways to "be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom 12:2) is to read the Word of God. You can follow the Church's lectionary cycle of daily readings, pray the Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours, or prayerfully read the Gospels or other books of the Bible.

Entrust yourself to Our Lady.

Praying the Rosary each day, doing or renewing your Marian consecration, and practicing the Five Saturdays devotion can all help you draw near to Mary. She who did God's will perfectly on earth will help you to know and love His plan for you.

Receive the Sacrament of Penance often.

In Confession, Jesus responds personally and powerfully to our desire for union with Him, freeing us to discern God's will more clearly and deeply.

Read the lives and writings of the saints.

The saints help us to understand how God brings us to perfect union with Him, and they, as our heavenly friends, intercede for us who are still on the way and trying to do His will.

Be faithful to the duties of your current state.

When we do what we need to do for school, work, family, and friends, we are actually doing God's will, which He shows us through the daily duties of our state in life.

Carrying out these tasks joyfully and without complaint will help strengthen us for the bigger moments when saying "yes" to God's will might be difficult or daunting.

Artwork: St. Cecilia in Prayer. From the St. Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville, TN.

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JOSEPH Go to Joseph!

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