The Dominican Charism in American Higher Education: VisionA Servicein ofTruth Inspired by the 12th Biennial Colloquium of Dominican Colleges and Universities 1 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given This document was commissioned by the presidents of the Dominican for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit colleges and universities in the U.S. in conjunction with the 2012 a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by Dominican Higher Education Colloquium entitled The Contemplative Vision: Love, Truth and Reality. It is intended to be “a conversation means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, starter” within and among the institutions of Dominican higher education to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous in the United States to stimulate research and writing that will further powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between explore and articulate the richness of the Dominican tradition. All are spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to invited to bring their scholarship, convictions and experiences to the conversation. still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each Thanks to the initiative of President Donna M. Carroll, Dominican one, just as he determines. 1 Cor 12: 7-11 University has assumed responsibility for the publication of the document and will serve as the distribution center for copies requested by Dominican institutions. Introduction Special thanks go to the American Dominicans who formed the The future of American Dominican institutions of higher education is, in writing team: large part, in the hands of dedicated lay women and men. These partners in mission bring their gifts of leadership, wisdom, knowledge and faith to • Charles Bouchard, OP, former president of Aquinas Institute of colleges initially founded and primarily staffed by sisters and friars. Today the Theology and present provincial of the Province of St. Albert the Great founding communities have entrusted what is most valuable and cherished • Ruth Caspar, OP, professor emerita of philosophy and humanities, of the Dominican tradition and its educational vision to the lay partners who Ohio Dominican University serve in these institutions. As bearers of the Dominican tradition and keepers • Marcella Hermesdorf, OP, professor of English, Dominican University of the charism, these partners in mission are called to know the history, • Diane Kennedy, OP, vice president for Mission and Ministry, preserve the legacy, nurture the culture, and engage the intellectual and Dominican University spiritual heritage for generations of students to come. • Judy Schaefer, OP, dean of theology, St. Mary’s University Collaboration of vowed Dominicans with lay women and men is not without precedent in the history of the order. In 1206, Dominic gathered together a The writers were both honored and challenged by the task entrusted to them. They submit their work to the scholarly communities of the community of religious women and men, as well as devoted lay persons who Dominican colleges and universities with the hope that a communal valued preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel for the church of their conversation will become a dialogue that generates future publications age. Today in our colleges and universities the collaboration of lay women on the Dominican contribution to higher education in the United States. and men with Dominican sisters and friars in commitment to Dominican mission embodies the fullness of Dominican family that Dominic had envisioned at the beginning of the order. 2 1 This document is written to the contemporary world of Dominican higher prayer and ministry, his pursuit of truth was unique and relentless. One of education in the United States — out of the collaboration of women and the most endearing stories about Dominic describes a nightlong conversation men, religious and lay — for the sake of sustaining a continuous conversation he had with an innkeeper, who had been misled by the local heresy of the regarding the unique heritage, vision and mission of American Dominican Cathars. By dawn, after conversing patiently all-night, Dominic had helped higher education in the 21st century. By initiating the conversation we hope his companion to accept the truth of the Gospel and turn away from heresy. to engage the scholarly richness and diverse experience of our colleagues Those hours spent in dialogue and debate reflect Dominic’s pragmatic in Dominican institutions in reflection upon our shared mission and, most approach to truth, which later found expression in the earliest constitution: importantly, to occasion further research and writing that will articulate the “Our order is known to have been founded from the outset precisely for the wisdom of the Dominican charism in higher education. sake of preaching and the salvation of souls, and our zeal should be primarily and passionately directed to the goal of being useful to the souls Our Dominican Heritage and Charism of our neighbors.”1 “In our daily and often difficult search for Christians believe that the Holy Spirit continues to truth, we have not only the inspiration of This dedication to the pursuit of grace the church in every age through gifts entrusted one another to keep us going, but also the to individuals and groups. Through this grace, religious truth for the sake of others has great ‘cloud of witnesses’ in the Dominican congregations have been birthed over the centuries inspired and formed saints and tradition in which we stand and to which we are called to contribute in new ways.” in response to particular needs of the church and the scholars whose works have built Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP world. One of these ecclesial groups is the Order of Preachers, also known up the faith of the church and as the Dominicans. The unique gift — or charism — of the Dominican contributed to the intellectual and spiritual traditions of the order: family is a passion for truth, a passion pursued through communal study Dominic: Our founder from whom we inherit our zeal for the and contemplation and expressed in works of preaching and teaching. Word and find inspiration in his special gifts of governance Founded by Dominic de Guzman in the 13th century, the Order of Preachers and administration. was a bold experiment that integrated contemplation and rigorous study with Thomas Aquinas: Our brother philosopher, theologian and poet, an itinerant life of teaching and preaching. The order was born in the rapidly who offers us an immeasurable legacy of wisdom. developing cities of the Middle Ages and was nourished by the intellectual Albert the Great: A scientist and lover of the universe, who inspires life of the newly founded universities in Paris, Oxford and Bologna. Dominic our care of the earth. wanted the order to serve from the heart of the church and to offer a Meister Eckhart: A German master of prayer and contemplation, response to the needs of the world out of an active dialogue with the best who gifts us with audacity to be open to all sources of truth. learning of the time. Catherine of Siena: Our sister-doctor who inspires all to speak truth to power. Dominic himself was born and lived his entire life in medio ecclesiae — in the Fra Angelico: A gifted friar, who preached not with words but midst of the church. He devoted his remarkable gifts of zeal, compassion and with paint and color, and who challenges us to see God administrative genius to helping ministers and members of the church remain through the beauty of the arts. faithful to the truth of the gospel. From all that we know about Dominic’s 2 3 Francisco de Vitorio: A brilliant lawyer-friar, who, along with his founders. They offer curricula that integrate the liberal arts and professional friar-brothers at the University of Salamanca, developed education in ways that prepare students for making a living as well as making international law that would reform the Spanish colonies a life. of the Americas. Marie-Joseph LaGrange: A faithful and fearless lover of the Word A Dominican Vision for Higher Education who founded L’Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem. The Dominican intellectual tradition that has shaped Dominican colleges and Yves Congar: A French theologian whose scholarly work shaped universities in the United States is grounded in values integral to the mission the documents of the Second Vatican Council. of the order: the pursuit of truth, integration of study and contemplation, seeing God in all things, compassion and justice, and engaged scholarship. The Beginnings of Dominican Higher Education in the United States The history of Dominican higher education in the United States begins in the The Pursuit of Truth early years of the 19th century when Dominican friars came to the Kentucky “Veritas” — Truth is the operative virtue of the Order of Preachers. The and Ohio frontier and established houses of study (studia) to educate their pursuit of truth motivates and propels Dominican mission. In an early members as well as other young men of the area. By the late 19th century the formulation of Thomas Aquinas, truth is defined as “adaequatio rei et sisters of the order began to establish liberal arts colleges for young women intellectus,” or conformity of the intellect with the thing itself. For Dominican of Catholic families in the American scholars, commitment to truth is both a virtue and a passion. Yves Congar “As scholars and teachers, we delight in church. From the Hudson River to confessed his passion for truth when he wrote: “I have loved the truth as one the world of scholarship that allows us to the Mississippi, from Michigan and 2 ponder, propose, discover, articulate, verify, loves a person” ; Richard Woods describes Dominicans as “followers of the Wisconsin to Kentucky and Louisiana, confirm and publish, so as to enter the star called Veritas;”3 and Ann Garrido speaks of the Dominican quest for truth from New Haven and New Jersey to classroom and give it all away.