A meagre contribution to the mission and work of the Order of Preachers: my reflections, thoughts, ideas and the occasional rant on matters mainly theological, philosophical and ecclesiastical, drawn primarily from my reading and experience of life and the world. Striving to be always Catholic, firmly Christian and essentially Dominican, flavoured with dashes of Von Balthasar.
A son of the English Province of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans); born in Malaysia but have lived in the USA, Singapore, the UK & the Philippines for varying durations. A pilgrim and way-farer, a searcher for Truth on the journey of Life... "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, There’s always laughter and good red wine. At least I’ve always found it so. Benedicamus Domino!" - Hilaire Belloc
Sancta Maria, succurre miseris, iuva pusillanimes, refove flebiles: ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede devoto femineo sexu: sentiant omnes tuum iuvamen, quicumque tuum sanctum implorant auxilium. Alleluia!
Holy Mary, succour those in need, help the faint-hearted, console the tearful: pray for the laity, assist for the clergy, intercede for all devout women: may all feel the power of your help, whoever prays for your holy aid. Alleluia!
O lumen Ecclesiae, Doctor veritatis, Rosa patientiae, Ebur castitatis: Aquam sapientiae propinasti gratis; Praedicator gratiae, nos junge beatis!
O light of the Church, Teacher of truth, Rose of patience, Ivory of chastity: You have freely poured out the Waters of wisdom; Preacher of grace, unite us to the Blessed!
Almighty and provident God, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and of all the angels and saints, we earnestly beg you to bless, guide and support our Holy Father, Benedict XVI. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Thanks to Jeff Miller for the graphic above and thanks to all who nominated and voted for this blog. Soli Deo gloria!
Said the Capuchin to the Dominican friar:Quod scripsi, scripsi- Lawrence Lew OP | 11:08 am
5 Comments:
Novice brothers appear to be holy, but are not.
Student brothers neither appear to be holy, nor are they holy.
Fathers do not appear to be holy, but indeed are holy.
Lay brothers, however, both appear to be holy and are holy!
Excellent! But is it a fair saying?!
Anecdotes? I've heard the saying before--a young priest was using it to josh a student brother. I can think of incedents that go either way though--novices praying devoutly after Mass, novices reprimanded for swing dancing at a Youth 2000; student brothers praying the rosary at WYD while kneeling in the rain, student brothers rumored to be human after all; priests devout and priests distracted.
But then, what does it mean to "appear holy"? To look all pious and devout, praying with eyes cast down and hands under one's scapular? To genuflect with heartfelt devotion, not haphazardly? What is it not to appear holy--to be distracted, sloppy, cross? Surely not blatently immoral, or that would go beyond semblance.
One time a student brother stopped me and a friend as we walked through the parish center at a reception. "Wait! I have this gift--I can tell your vocation!" We were all hyped anyway, and we knew this brother, so we stopped eagerly. He very dramatically held his hands over us, closed his eyes, and declared: "Your vocation is--to do what God wants you to!!"
Hilarious at the time, and good to remember, but it doesn't help me a lot in determining semblance vs. reality of holiness. So I can't tell if it's a fair saying or not!
...good to remember, but it doesn't help me a lot....
That was a Dominican student brother, then?
As in, the anecdote thus fulfills the criteria?
But yes, a student brother.
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