NASHVILLE DOMINICANS VOCATION E-NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2019

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

September 2019

"Whatever is true... think about these things."

-Philippians 4:8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Re lection on Saint Dominic, Teacher of Truth Book Recommendation: How to Think like Aquinas

Blessings of the Summer: Jubilees, Profession of Vows, Reception of the Habit, Postulant Entrance, and Community Days Together

A Love for Truth

The First Reflection on a Title from the Litany of Saint Dominic There is a lovely tradition in our community and in the Dominican Order of chanting each night an ancient antiphon to Saint Dominic that recalls his virtues and asks for his intercession. As the sisters process towards the tabernacle singing this hymn, which includes several titles from the Litany of Saint Dominic, the longest se uence of notes in the antiphon beautifully accents the essential heritage Dominic left to his Order – veri atis, a love for the truth. Dominic contemplated the truth and based his entire life on the Truth, Jesus Christ, who sets man free (cf. John 8:32). Once while traveling in southern France, he encountered an innkeeper who lacked con idence in God’s eternal goodness and falsely believed man’s body was evil. Dominic stayed up talking with him the entire night until the light of holy truth penetrated the man’s intellect and he was brought back into the sheepfold of the true faith.

As we return to classes or the rhythm of regular work after times of rest, may we strive to imitate Saint Dominic, Doctor Veri atis, Teacher of Truth, who sought to the know the truth; to think about only that which was true, gracious, lovely, and worthy of praise (cf. Philippians 4:8); and to make choices based on the reality of who Christ, our Savior is for us. May we be con ident in His unfailing love and not be deceived by the world’s push to ‘become someone’ or to ‘create’ some false reality about ourselves or God and further endeavor to know the truth through the study of the Catholic faith. Perhaps, when we are waiting for something to start or are driving home, we could stop and re lect on the sound track of thoughts that play in our minds and ask, “Do these thoughts beautifully accent the truth I know and believe in order to form the reason why I am acting?”

Advising those who wish to devote themselves to truthful living, Father A.G. Sertillanges, O.P. writes, “Seek the approval of God; be intent only on truth, for yourself and others; do not be a slave” (The Intellectual Life, 213). Further, Saint Thomas A uinas asserts that “Man’s ultimate happiness consists in the contemplation of truth” (Summa Contra Gentiles, Bk. 3).

If we desire to be happy we must live in the truth of reality and the love of the one who is Truth Incarnate and who came that we “might have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

S . Dominic, Teach of Truth, pray for us.

Silver Jubilee

On July 6, three of our sisters, Sister Mary Therese, Sister Mary Patrick and Sister Mary Raymond, celebrated their twenty- ifth year of religious profession. Many family and friends joined them for the Holy Sacri ice of the Mass and a celebration afterwards.

Perpetual Profession Celebrated on the Twenty-Fifth of July at the Cathedral of the Incarnation

Front Row: Sister Anna Ruth, Sister Krista Marie, Sister Daniela and Sister Anna Margaret. Back Row: Sister Cecilia Marie, Sister Caitriona, Sister Mary Gemma and Sister Chiara

"The love of Christ impels us" (2 Cor 5:14): the members of every Institute should be able to repeat this truth with Saint Paul, because the task of the consecrated life is... the proclamation of the Gospel even to the most far-off regions.

- Vita Consecrata, 78

Sister Maria Frassati, Sister Mary Philippa, Sister Lydia Marie, Sister Faustina Therese, Sister John Magdalene, Sister Aimee Marie, Sister Amara, and Mother Anna Grace

First Profession Celebrated on the Tenth of August at the Cathedral of the Incarnation

Reception of the Habit On the Feast of Saint Dominic, six of our sisters were clothed in the Holy Habit of Saint Dominic. This began their canonical year as novices.

After the ceremony, they were welcomed by the sisters.

You are to remind men that their true and complete progress consists in responding to their calling "to share as sons in the life of the living God, the Father of all men."

- Evangelica Testificatio, 19

Postulant Entrance On the Solemnity of the Assumption, we welcomed another wonderful group of postulants into the community! A few days later they were given a pin with the Dominican cross in a simple ceremony by Mother Anna Grace.

"This is the meaning of the call to the consecrated life: it is an initiative coming wholly from the Father, who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion. The experience of this gracious love of God is so deep and so powerful that the person called senses the need to respond by unconditionally dedicating his or her life to God, consecrating to him all things present and future, and placing them in his hands."

-Vita Consecrata, 17

Summer Days Together

"Through everything that you do, and especially through everything that you are, may the truth be proclaimed and reconfirmed that "Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25): the truth that is at the basis of the whole economy of the Redemption. From Christ, the Redeemer of the world, may the inexhaustible source of your love for the Church pour forth!"

-Redemptionis Dominum, 15

Each summer our sisters are blessed to be able to spend time together in recreation and study. This year we were also able to welcome Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, who spoke to us on the vow of chastity.

Recommended Reading

How to Think Like Aquinas The Sure Way to Perfect Your Mental Powers By: Kevin Vost, Psy. D.

Pope Pius XI, in his 1923 encyclical on Saint Thomas A uinas, writes that Thomas is a “model” for those who desire to “pursue their studies to the best advantage and with the greatest pro it to themselves.” In Kevin Vost’s new book he examines how Saint Thomas’s own words and life style can be a model for modern man regarding how to study and live.

Additionally, he provides the reader with steps to train one’s memory in order to identify common logically fallacies, heresies and partial-truths in words and speech. It would be a pro itable read for anyone who desires to think more clearly in imitation of Saint Thomas.

“Thomas knew that God gave us reason for a reason - to find truth in the world around us and to serve the faith that will guide us to Truth in eternity. It is up to us, then, to build our natural thinking capacities both by developing and practicing the arts that perfect them on a natural plan, and by becoming more open to the graces from above that will raise them to heavenly heights." (from page 7) CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR A LINK TO BUY THIS BOOK.