Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Triduum Newsletter

Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia ~ 801 Dominican Drive, Nashville, Tennessee ~ vocation@op-tn.org

DOMINICAN LIFE IN THE HOLY SEASON OF

Lent

PENANCE AND POVERTY

In this issue: Reflections on Penance and Poverty,Year of Mercy Events, and more

Proof of

the greatest LOVE

Penance, Poverty, & Freedom Let the Cross be for you, as it was for Christ, proof of the greatest love. Is there not a mysterious relationship between renunciation and joy, between sacrifice and magnanimity, between discipline and spiritual freedom? ~ Blessed Paul VI, Evangelica Testificatio

In preparing us for our first profession of vows, our novice mistress frequently reminded us of Christ's words: “No one takes my life from me, but I myself lay it down.” The words were instructive, certainly—we were to understand that our sacrifice was to be like Christ’s, a gift freely given. But they were also a call to remember that He loved us first--and that loving us first, He laid down His life for us.

Writing Evangelica Testificatio in 1971, Blessed Paul VI reminded religious that there is a "mysterious relationship [...] between discipline and spiritual freedom." Lent is a graced time to reflect on this mysterious relationship forged by a life freely laid down. Fasting, prayer, and alms-

giving--however we individually undertake them--are observed within the context of the regular Dominican life of poverty and penance.

And for this reason, Lenten penance is a welcome and appropriately challenging reminder of the discipline and freedom of Saint Dominic.

In The Nine Ways of Prayer, we learn that the brothers could hear Dominic, prostrate on the ground, loudly praying the words of Psalm 51: "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Convinced of his own need for mercy, Dominic would also encourage the brethren to do penance for themselves and for the world: "If you cannot weep for your own sins because you have none, remember that there are many sinners who can be disposed for mercy and charity." In these words of prayer and exhortation, Dominic's heart was on display: his heart was one contrite and humbled, a heart on fire for his brethren and for sinners, and a heart set free for mercy.

In the Lenten season and out of it, we walk as children of Saint Dominic--seeking God's mercy for ourselves and for others, we live a common life that has its own joys and penances. During Lent, our penance deepens as we pray the Stations of the Cross each Friday as a community, rise earlier in the morning to pray the Penitential Psalms, and wear our black mantles during Divine Office. We pray, we fast, and we follow Saint Dominic's example--together. Over and over again, the common life and our common Lenten penances are a reminder that "No one takes my life from me." I myself laid down my life in poverty, chastity, and obedience. I myself laid down my life in acceptance of the discipline of the common life, of the Cross.

I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession.

Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead.. ~ Philippians 3:13

You must feel something of the force with which Christ was drawn to His Cross--that baptism He had still to receive, by which that fire would be lighted which sets you, too, ablaze-something of that "foolishness" which St. Paul wishes we all had, because it alone makes us wise.

Let the Cross be for you, as it was for Christ, proof of the greatest love. ~ Evangelica Testificatio

They have washed their robes

and made them white in the blood of the Lamb

In the spirit of Saint Dominic who while he walked in the flesh lived in the spirit, not serving self-indulgence but taming it, we must live in the spirit of penance by fidelity to all aspects of our life. ~ Constitutions Just after the Salve Regina each evening, we sing the O Lumen, an antiphon in honor of Saint Dominic. Chanting the titles given to our Holy Father is a tribute and a touchstone: honoring Saint Dominic's virtues, we ask him to strengthen our identity as his daughters--to make us truthful and patient as our father, whose life and virtues are neatly set forth in this recently republished book. During this Jubilee of the Dominican Order, Reverend T.A. Murphy's commentary offers an enriching approach to a classic prayer, and is illustrated with photographs from the Saint Cecilia Motherhouse Chapel.

Available from www.clunymedia.com

Recommended Reading

The observance of the vow of poverty leads to that detachment from material things which fosters an increased love of God. - Constitutions

As a sign of poverty and for its efficacy, the sisters live the common life.

They not only pray together, take meals and recreation together, but they also observe the common life in matters of food, clothing and furniture.

- Constitutions

Each sister should undertake works of self-denial so that she may completely fulfill her own call to penance.

...

The habit of the congregation is the white and black habit of the Order of Preachers, symbolic of innocence and penance. ~ Constitutions

Throughout Lent, the sisters wear their mantles while chanting the Divine Office.

During the Good Friday fast, the sisters also wear their mantles during meals. Here the sisters are shown processing from the chapel to the refectory.

Pilgrimage of Mercy FEBRUARY 6, 2016

Sister Anne Frances, O.P., who serves in the Office of Campus Ministry at Providence College, organized a day focusing on the practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Students from Providence College, Assumption College, Brown University, and women from the area spent time in prayer and service as "pilgrims of mercy."

The pilgrims began their day by walking through the Holy Door of Mercy at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. After spending time in prayer, they served with My Brother's Keeper, an organization that delivers furniture to families in poverty as a means "to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those they serve." After participating in this work of mercy, the pilgrims returned to Providence for a Holy Hour and Mass at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory.

It is my bur ning desire that, during To end the day the this Jubilee , the Christi pilgrims gathered for reflect on th an people m e corporal a dinner talks on Mercy and ay n d spiritual wo Vocation by Father Philip Neri POPE FRANCI rks of merc S MISERICO O P and Sister Beatrice O P and Compline RDIAE VU y. ,

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During their time in Providence, the sisters also had the opportunity to go ice-skating with the friars and students..

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~

LTUS

Weekend Retreat in Vancouver, British Columbia ~ February 19-21, 2016

Encountering

CHRIST

in the Year of

Mercy

Twelve young women from Canada and Washington State joined our sisters missioned in Vancouver for time away with the Lord. Father Stephen Maria Lopez, O.P., of the Western Province of Dominican Friars, offered the sacraments and preached conferences entitled "The Heart of the Merciful Father," "The Face of Mercy in the Son," and "Transformed by Mercy through the Spirit."

Auburn, Alabama

Travels & Visits

Dominican Week 2016 University of Florida

Southeastern Missouri University Nun Run

Virginia Catholic Campus Ministry Summit

University of Notre Dame & St. Mary's College Nun Run