Vol.35, No.3 Jun-Jul-Aug

2002

Province of ore It-lites Saint Joseph Newsletter of the Dominican Laity

It is with heartfelt sadness that I sign off From the this last issue of Torch-lites and say my A Dominican farewell adieu to all of you my Dominican Promoter's brothers and sisters. Oremus pro invicem. Appointment Father Joseph P. Allen, O.P. Desk U.S. Theologian Appointed to Congrega­ tion for Doctrine of the Faith, Dominican oday, June 27th, Father Di Noia, had key role in Bishops' T I learned that I would no longer Conference serve the Province of We Have aNew Saint Joseph as the Vatican City, April 7, 2002 (Zenit.org). Promoter for the Provincial Dominican Laity. Certainly you must he Dominican ohn Paul II has appointed Dominican realize that this came T Province of St. J Father Joseph Augustine Di Noia as a complete surprise Joseph once again undersecretary of the to me and many has tapped into the Vatican others within the Province. Since the news ranks of Providence Congregation for the broke many have called and e-mailed me College's alumni to Doctrine of the Faith. concerning their disappointment. I lead the province's appreciate your support and concern on my brethren. "I am delighted behalf. Please keep the transition of the I will be able to serve administration in your prayers. Fr. Dominic Izzo, the Church universal O.P., '88, a native in this assignment to Rhode Islander who has been the vicar the Congregation for My successor, Fr. provincial, or superior, of the province's the Doctrine of the James Sullivan, O.P., Vicariate of Eastern Africa for the last two Faith," Father Di is a wonderful young years, was elected prior provincial of the Noia said at the announcement Thursday. priest. He was Province of St. Joseph, June 7, 2002, "I am grateful to our Holy Father for the ordained in 1995 at during the chapter meetings at Providence appointment." St. Dominic Church, College. Washington, DC. Fr. Sullivan has served Fr. Dominic (David) Izzo' s new position Now the director of the Intercultural as associate pastor in took effect on June 10, 2002, when he Forum for Studies in Faith and Culture at our parish in Cincin­ accepted office and made public profession the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in nati and is currently and oath of fidelity in Our Lady of the Washington, D.C., Father Di Noia's teaching on the Rosary Chapel in the St. Thomas Aquinas appointment is effective immediately and faculty at St. Joseph's Seminary, Priory-Gragnani Dominican Center. he will move to the Vatican at the end of Dunwoodie, NY. He will remain teaching this month. and plans on working with the Dominican In assuming his new office, Fr. Izzo Laity as his time permits. He is generally automatically assumes the title of "Very free on weekends. This will allow him to Reverend." "The Church in the United States has participate at meetings on the Reg- ional been greatly blessed by the extraordinary level. He is already aware of my Fall Founded in 1805, the Province of St. wisdom, incredible talents and exemplary commitments and I believe that he wil try to Joseph is one of four self-governing fidelity of this wonderful priest and respect the regional meetings set for New Dominican provinces established in the theologian," said Catholic University of York City, September 14, West Springfield, United States. The province comprises the America's president, Vincentian Father October 12, and Washington, DC, six New England states, the Middle David O'Connell. He said that Father Di November 23. Atlantic states, Kentucky and Ohio. It also Noia will remain on the university board of oversees a Dominican mission in Eastern trustees. I shall continue to handle the mail and Africa .. Additionally, the province also supports the Dominican missions in Paki­ routine office work into August sometime. stan, Peru, and the Solomon Islands. There All mail should be sent to out Washington Father Di Noia, a member of the are approximately 280 fathers and brothers Dominican Province of St. Joseph, is a address following the reception of this my in the province, which helped establish professor of theology at the Dominican last Torch-lites newsletter. Providence College in 1917. House of Studies in Washington and an adjunct professor at St. Joseph Seminary in Fr. Sullivan plans on making monthly Elected to a four-year, Fr. Izzo succeeds Yonkers, New York. visits to the Laity Office in Washington the Very Rev. Norman A. Haddad, O.P. In P.2-> where he will receive his mail and conduct assuming the office of Third Order affairs. Prior P.2-> Contents New Provincial (Cont.) DiNoia Appointment (Cont.) Provincial, his primary duties are to In the past he served as executive The Promoter's Desk promote "the authentic spirit and life of the director of the secretariat for doctrine and Fr. Joseph P. Allen, O.P. I 1 Order" in his province; to keep "the pastoral practices of the National A Dominican Appointment common good of the Order very much at Conference of Catholic Bishops. heart;" and to "promote cooperation Fr. Joseph Augustine DiNoia, O.P. I 1 between the province and the hierarchy and He has been a member of the Congregation In Praise of the Holy Trinity between the province and other religious for the Doctrine of the Faith International Most Rev. John J. Myers I 3 families so that the needs of the local Theological Commission and is editor in An Assumption of the Whole Church Church may be understood better and chief of the Dominican scholarly quarterly Fr. Paul E. Duggan I 6 provided for more satisfactorily. The Thomist. Last autumn, Father Di Noia U.S. National Rosary Pilgrimage I 8 served as theologian to the secretary­ Centerfold: Pictures/Text of Graduating from Providence College general of the lOth Assembly of the Synod St. Joseph Province with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in of Bishops in Rome. Dominican Laity Provincial Council 1988, Fr. Izzo entered the Dominican no vi­ The Lord's Prayer tiate the same year. He received a master's BorninNewYorkonJuly 10, 1943,Di Bishop Donald Wuerl I 9 degree in theology in 1993 and a licentiate's Noia made his first vows in the Order of The Eucharistic Presence of Jesus: degree in Sacred Scripture in 1995, both Preachers in August 1964. He was from the Dominican House of Studies in ordained a priestJune 4, 1970. In 1971, he A Personal Experience Washington, DC. He was ordained in 1994. received a licentiate in theology from the Fr. Kuha Indyer, C.S.S.p. I 10 Dominican House of Studies in Washington, Holy Rosary Chapter I 11 Following the completion of his studies, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale Provincial Council Meeting Summary Fr. Izzo was assigned to the Vicariate in University in 1980. • Anna Donnelly, O.P. I 12 Eastern Africa in 1995. The vicariate Messianic Joy for the Third Millennium covers an extensive geographic area Mary Hurley, O.P. I 13 comprised of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, From the Desk of Dorothy Murphy I 13 and southern Sudan. Chief among the Memories and Accolades Dominicans' ministries in Eastern Africa Marge Evans, O.P. I 14 are caring for orphans with AIDS and The Miraculous Image of the assisting orphan and/or homeless children, Madonna of San Sisto I 15 sending those who show promise to boarding school.

It is with joy that we welcome Fr. Izzo, in the priory. A welcoming reception was and ask God's blessings on all his held in the afternoon to introduce the ATTENTION: Please note that at the undertakings. • council members to the community. reception of this issue, ALL mail must Highlights of the week included shared be sent to Washington, DC. daily prayer with the community, the The address is: solemn celebration of the "Translation of Dominican Laity Office St. Dominic", meetings with Fr. Yvon 487 Michigan A venue, NE Report from Pomerleau, O.P., Promoter of the Dominican Family, Sr. Margaret Ormond, Washington, DC 20017 Laurie Biszko O.P., Dominican Sisters International, with a closing address by Fr. Carlos Azpiroz, O.P., Master of the Dominican Order. [Dateline Rome, Italy - May 28, 2002] Issue common to the global family inclu­ oday marked the conclusion of the first ded: Formation, Promotional Materials, T annual meeting of the International Conformity of Statutes/Directories, Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities establishment of the legal entity ICLDF to (ICLDF). Meeting here at Santa Sabina, afford Professed Laity representation the representatives of Africa, Asia, Europe, within the Order. Budget/Finance North America and South America projections. Terms of Office, location of discussed global issues common to Lay future meetings, support network for Dominican mission and spirituality. ongoing development of new Professed Facilitating the meeting as Fr. Gerald Laity fraternities, Peace and Justice Stookey, O.P., Promotor General of the commission, Preaching, and Collaboration Dominican Laity. The delegates and their within the Order. respective provinces/continents were: Emmanuel Afrifa, Nigeria!Africa; Rowena The resolutions of the Commission on Torch-lites [ISSN 0164..&>87) the official Gonzales, Philippines/Asia; Patricia pubhcahon of the Dominican Fathers of Saint the Dominican Family/General Chapter Robinson, England/Europe; Laurie Biszko, Providence 2001 were reviewed with Joseph Province, is published quarterly. USA Eastern/North America; and Pedro attention given to the protocol relating to Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida. Tomes, Mexico/South America. dismissal of chapter members. Managerial omce: Dominican House of Studies, 487 Michigan Avenue, N .. E., Welcoming the Council to Santa Sabina, The next annual meeting will be in Washington, OC 20027. Fr. Carlos Azpiroz, O.P., Master of the Rome, May 22-27,2003. Publishing & lditlq Office: 6026 W. Order, embraces the delegates and gave HatWood Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32835. them keys to the house. He emphasized that Respectfully submitted, Postmaster: Send all address changes to: 6026 they were "home" and as members of Laurie Biszko, O.P. W. Harwood Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32835. the family were welcome everywhere with- Dominican Laity!ICLDF rejected. Trinity. He points out that the Trinity is In Praise both the beginning and the goal of history. God Revealed in Nature and This mystery, which is beyond our of the Through Divine Revelation comprehension, is also, according to the It need not be so. Both from nature and Holy Father, "closest to us because it is the Holy Trinity Divine revelation we can know more and very source of our being. For in God "we Most Rev. John J. Myers perceive more deeply. The Hubble live and move and have our being" [Acts telescope based in space has revealed a 7:28]. "Moreover", he says, "in the depths [The following are excerpts from the universe that would have been of our being, where not even our gaze can keynote address given at the 2000 National unimaginable some decades ago. With this penetrate, the Father, Son, and holy Spirit, Meeting on April 28, 2000 at the and similar instruments scientists are one God and three Persons, are present University of St. Mary of the Lake in aware of billions and billions of galaxies, through grace. Far from being a dry Mundelein, IL.] not just individual stars or planets. They intellectual truth, the mystery ofthe Trinity are aware of new phenomena in space. is the life that dwells in us and sustains here are many who are convinced Their vision extends for trillions of miles. us." that our knowledge of God is T essentially a creation of our own The same is true as science considers the The Holy Father also points out the minds or a projection of our emotional very structure of matter. Not so many years various ways in which the Blessed Trinity needs. Some base their position on a ago it was a wonder to consider atoms and was anticipated in different accounts of philosophical conviction that we do not molecules and then electrons and protons. creation. "God 'has made the world firm, really know truth. Others would admit to But the micro world, too, is now being not to be moved' [Ps 96:10], and as He some vague knowledge of the Creator or of demonstrated, sometimes in theory but faces nothingness, symbolized by the some abstract life force, but they would often with corroboration, to be incredibly chaotic waters which lift up their voice, the reject any assertion that any more detailed complex. To this add the simple beauty of Creator arises, giving firmness and or clearer knowledge of this Being is creation as evident in all the natural safety ... " But Sacred Scripture also refers to possible. Add to this mix a society which wonders of our own planet and the beauty the Divine Word that breaks in and acts. considers emotions and feelings to be the and truth expressed by human artists of all "By the Word of the Lord the heavens were fundamental human realities. kinds. made and all their hosts by the breath of His mouth. He spoke, and it came to be ... " And so, how do we know of God? The It is difficult to understand how people, And yet we hear also from the psalmist, tradition of our Church affirms that we confronted by this remarkable and "When you send forth your Spirit, they are know of God both through the encounter of wonderful knowledge and truth, do not created; and you renew the face of the our minds with His Creation and, even drop to their knees in adoration of the earth" [Ps 104:30]. more, in His self-revelation in the course of Being who has made all of this possible. salvation history, culminating in His And yet, with blinders provided by certain The Pope continues, "So, in beholding definitive revelation in Jesus Christ, His philosophical presuppositions and thought, the glory of the Trinity in creation, man perfect Word. We know of God, therefore, as well as by the darkness that exists within must contemplate, sing and rediscover in the order of persons and not simply in the human heart and the human family, wonder. In contemporary society people the order of things. We learn of Him in His people do not see and do not understand become indifferent 'not for lack of actions and in His Word, shared with us and do not believe. They would rather have wonders, but for lack of wonder' [G.K. through Holy Scripture and the Tradition a god of their own making. Chesterton]. To the believer, to of the Church. contemplate creation is also to hear a This process is quite similar to one message, to listen to a paradoxical if silent Great thinkers such as Christopher thoroughly rejected by people today. People voice as the 'Psalm of Sun' suggests: "The Dawson and our present Holy Father have do not like to be "placed in boxes." They do heavens are telling the glory of God; and stressed in their thought that a culture is not like other people telling them what the firmament proclaims His handiwork" heavily shaped and defined by the way it they are really like. They understand the [Ps.19:1-5]. relates to the Divinity. The religious injustice involved in one person making identity of people is ofgreat significance. If generalizations about other classes of Nature thus becomes a gospel which a people can determine to live primarily on people or determining in their own mind speaks to us of God: 'From the greatness the physical plane with a world view that is what someone is "truly like" even without and beauty of created things comes a not open to the transcendent and eternal, knowing that person well. Isn't it inter­ corresponding perception of the Creator' then such a people will be forever at the esting that those who understand the [Wis 13 :5]. Paul teaches us that 'ever since mercy of the material and the ephemeral. inaccuracy and the injustice of such the creation of the world His [God's] Feelings and moods can predominate. thinking use the same process in their invisible nature, namely, His eternal power Truth is not something which is grounded relationship with God. They do not hesitate and Deity, has been clearly perceived in the in a reality beyond themselves. It is to determine what God is "really like." things that have been made' [Rom.l:200. something, rather, under their control. They seem to feel no compunction about This capacity for contemplation and There is little reason within this world the inaccuracy and the injustice involved. knowledge, this discovery ofa transcendent view even to ask deeper and more probing presence in created things must lead us also questions about the purpose of existence Pope John Paulll's to discover our kinship with the earth, to and the meaning of human life. Trinitarian Insights which we have been linked since our own In the great Tradition of our Church creation" [cf. Gn.2:7] . Moreover, the profound and eternal both contemplation and critical thought dignity of the human person becomes lost have played a role in our understanding of The Holy Father insists that the Glory of in the rush of feelings and needs. the Blessed Trinity. Our Holy Father, Pope the Trinity is "manifested in time and Principles that depend upon and surround John Paul II, at some of his Wednesday space" and "reaches its high point in Jesus, and protect the human person are not audiences during this Jubilee Year has in His Incarnation and in His story." easily recognized and are, in the end, been reflecting on the Mystery of the

3 Quoting him again, "To know God and baptizing them in the name of the Father anything else. But the entire three persons His Son is to accept the mystery of the and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." It are co-eternal and coequal with one loving communion of the Father, the Son took some time for the Church to clarify another, so that, as we have said, we and the Holy Spirit into one's own life, and affirm the Trinitarian faith as its own worship complete unity in the Trinity and which even now is open to eternal life understanding deepened. It was essential the Trinity in unity. This, then, is what he because it shares in the life of God. Eternal that the Church discover terminology that who wishes to be saved must believe about life is therefore the life of God Himself and was accurate and did not compromise the Trinity." at the same time the life of the children of "hypostasis," and "relation." God. As they ponder this unexpected and The Trinity in the Life of the Church ine>..1>ressible truth that comes to us from The Church uses the term "substance" Thus, the mysterious plan of God God and Christ, believers cannot fail to be [rendered also at times by "essence" or unfolds in the whole work of creation, the filled with ever-new wonder and "nature"] to designate the Divine Being in history of salvation, and in the work of the unbounded gratitude." its unity; the term "person" or "hypostasis" Son and of the Holy Spirit that are to designate the Father, Son and Holy continued in the life of our Church. All The Trinity as Christianity's Spirit and the real distinction among them; three divine persons share in this work. Central Mystery and the term "relation" to designate the Since there is only one nature there is only The Catechism of the Catholic Church fact that their distinction lies in the one operation. Each divine person, emphasizes that the Most Holy Trinity is relationship of each to the others. however, acts according to His unique the central mystery of Christian faith and personal properties. life. "It is the most fundamental and The fruit of centuries of theological essential teaching in the ' hierarchy of the reflection is summed up beautifully in the Just as the Father is the "principium truths of the faith."' [CCC, 234]. Many creed attributed to Saint Athanasius. "We imprincipiatum", the "source, in one sense, religions refer to God as "Father." This worship one God in the Trinity and the so He is both the source and goal of the life designation in the language of faith Trinity in unity; we distinguish among the of the Church which carries on the indicates both that God is the "first origin persons, but we do not divide the missions of both the Son and the Holy of everything" and that he is "goodness and substance. For the Father is a distinct Spirit. This mission is realized in Word loving care for all His children" [CCC, person; the Son is a distinct person; and and Sacrament. "Seated at the right hand of 239]. God's tenderness is also sometimes the Holy Spirit is a distinct person. Still the the Father and pouring out the Holy Spirit expressed by the image of motherhood [Is Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit on His body which is the Church, Christ 66: 13] that stresses the intimacy between have one divinity, equal glory, and co­ now acts through the Sacraments He Creator and creature. And yet God is eternal majesty. What the Father is, the instituted to communicate His grace." neither man nor woman. He transcends Son is, and the Holy Spirit is. The Father is [CCC, 1084] Christ is always present in the fatherhood and motherhood. He is their uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Church. He is present both the sacrifice "origin and standard." Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is and the sacrament of the most holy boundless, the Son is boundless and the Eucharist. But the Holy Spirit is the teacher Jesus revealed God as Father in a Holy Spirit is boundless. The Father is of the faith that prepares the way for Christ profoundly new sense. "He is a Father in eternal, the Son is eternal and the Holy and who makes present the mystery of relation to His only Son who is eternally Spirit is eternal. Nevertheless, there are not Christ. In each of the Sacraments, God the Son only in relation to His Father: 'No one three eternal beings, but one eternal being. Father is the source and the goal and Jesus knows the Son except the Father and no Thus there are not three uncreated beings, Christ, God the Son Incarnate, through the one knows the Father except the Son and nor three boundless beings, but one sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit, is the anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal uncreated being and one boundless being. principal actor. It is the whole Christ who Him" [Mt 11:27, CCC, 240]. The Church acts [CCC, 1136]. It is the whole confessed at Nicaea (325) that the Son is Likewise, the Father is omnipotent, the community, the body of Christ united with 'the only-begotten Son of God eternally Son is omnipotent, and the Holy Spirit is its head, that celebrates. Liturgical begotten of the Father, Light from Light, omnipotent. Yet there are not three celebrations "touch individual members of true, God from true God, begotten not omnipotent beings, but one omnipotent the church in different ways, depending on made, consubstantial with the Father'." being. Thus the Father is God, the Son is their orders, their role in the liturgical [CCC, 242] God, and the Holy Spirit is God. But there services, and their actual participation in are not three gods, but one God. The them" [CCC, 1140]. Jesus spoke also of the Paraclete who Father is lord, the Son is lord, and the Holy was with the Disciples to teach them and Spirit is lord. There are not three lords, but The Trinitarian Concept guide them "into all the Truth." "The one Lord. For according to Christian truth, of Religious Life Spirit is sent to the Apostles and to the we must profess that each of the persons Pope John Paul II reflected on the gift of Church both by the Father in the name of individually is God; and according to the consecrated life in the Church in his and by the Son in person, once he had Christian religion we are forbidden to say Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata in returned to the Father" [CCC, 244]. We that there are three gods or three lords. The a Trinitarian context. It appealed to the learn that Jesus, God the Son Incarnate Father is not made by anyone, nor created New Testament account of the even in His risen humanity, participates in by anyone, nor generated by anyone. The Transfiguration to help us understand and the mission of the Holy Spirit into our Son is not made nor created by anyone, but appreciate that those who are called apart hearts and minds. As Saint John reminded the Father alone generates him. The Holy to encounter and represent Jesus in a us in his gospel, the sending of the Holy Spirit is not made by nor created nor particular way are invited more deeply into Spirit was intimately and profoundly generated, but proceeds from the Father the Mystery of the Holy Trinity [Mt 17:1- connected with the loving self-sacrifice of and the Son. 9] . Contemplation ofthe Transfigured Lord Jesus Christ. "In bowing His head, He reveals the Father who reaches out to us handed over the Spirit" [John 19:30]. There is, then, one Father, not three through His Son; "This is my beloved Son: fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy listen to Him!" The Father takes the From the beginning the Church's faith Spirit, not three holy spirits. In this trinity, initiative in calling people to lives of was Trinitarian. "Go and teach all nations, there is nothing greater, nothing less than consecration. The Son asks a total

4 commitment of those called to consecrated union with Him. Any culture and any life. In Jesus who is "the image of the institution which would seek the human An invisible God" [Col 1:15], "we glimpse good must serve the profound dignity depths of an eternal and infinite love which attendant upon these truths. Culture must Assumption is at the very root of our being." The cloud be open to the transcendent One who is overshadowing the encounter in the revealed as Three. In Tertia Millennia of the Transfiguration has traditionally been Adveniente Pope John Paul II speaks of understood to portray the presence of the "the crisis of civilization, which has Whole Church Holy Spirit. The Spirit helps those given an become apparent especially in the West, Paul E. Duggan intense and personal invitation to follow which is highly developed from the Christ to understand and recognize and standpoint of technology but is interiorly he Church and the mother of the Lord make their own all the demands of such a impoverished by its tendency to forget God Thave always been intimately associated. choice. or to keep him at a distance. This crisis of Mary's assumption is only one phase ofthat civilization must be countered by the linkage, but it has been considered in depth The evangelical counsels stand at the civilization of love, founded on the since the 1950 definition. heart of the life of consecration and they universal values ofpeace, solidarity, justice are a gift of the Holy Trinity. "The and liberty, which find their full attainment Their relationship is an internal and consecrated life proclaims what the Father, in Christ" [no. 52]. The life of the believer essential one. Church and Virgin are through the Son and in the Spirit, brings in the Church, lived authentically, is a explanatory of each other. They form, about by His love and His goodness and profound contribution to each society and wrote Jesuit Father Henri de Lubac, "one His beauty." each culture. single unique mystery. Both are, after Christ, the dwelling place of wisdom, and The Holy Father writes, "The The Blessed Trinity and Our Lady even wisdom herself; both are a 'new world' consecrated life is thus called constantly to No mere creature is more closely and prodigious creation; both rest in the deepen the gift of the evangelical counsels associated with the life of the Most Holy shadow of Christ." with a love which grows ever more genuine Trinity than the Blessed Virgin Mary. She and strong in the Trinitarian dimension: is the daughter of God the Father, to whom Each is called the new Eve. They enjoy love for Christ, which leads to closeness He sent the Angel Gabriel. She is the that title because of their faith and with Him; love for the Holy Spirit, who spouse of the Holy Spirit through whose obedience. Both participate, although at opens our hearts to His inspiration; love for overshadowing she conceived Jesus Christ. different levels, in the saving action of the Father, the first origin and supreme She is Mother of God the Son by a singular humankind. Both are referred to as the Ark goal of the consecrated life. The grace. In modern terminology she is a of the Covenant, Gate ofHeaven, Bride of consecrated life thus becomes a confession "singularity." Christ, Virgin and Mother. and a sign of the Trinity, whose mystery is held up to the Church as the model and I humbly pray that the Holy Virgin, The Church will join Mary in her source of every form of Christian life" Mother of God, will lead us surely and perfection as the Bride of Christ at the end [Nita Consecrata, no. 21]. more deeply into the Mystery of the Most of the world. Our Lady's being taken up Blessed Trinity by her example and tells us that not only she but also an entire Through divine revelation we learn that through her intercession. May we come to community will be assumed into glory. A the One God is a community of persons. Is recognize more completely every day the forceful argument for the Assumption is it any wonder then that not only ecclesial action of the three Divine Persons in our the intimate association of Mary with the life but all reality of which the divinity is lives and in our sanctification. • Lord in His work of redemption. the source, reflects both complexity and a marvelous dynamic toward unity. His Excellency, John J. Myers, is Bishop of Why would Mary be assumed? Wasn't it Peoria. enough that Jesus the Christ, in His Nor should we be surprised that human [Reprinted with permission from Religious humanity and in His divinity, had alone beings created in the "image and likeness Life magazine.] attained completion, the fulfillment of of God" should be persons who are neither supernatural destiny? destined nor satisfied to remain alone. Persons are ordered to persons. Friendship, The Eternal Word is divine while Mary family, communities flow quite naturally is human. So there is revealed an entirely from our identity which reflects our different eschatological concept here. Not Creator. only the possibility but the very principle of the eventual glorification of all those who As God has intervened in human have been redeemed is posited. The dual history, He has not been satisfied to save relationship of sin in the original Adam individuals here and there. He has and Eve, and reconciliation in the second undertaken to form for Himself a New Adam and Eve, are both accepted part of People, a family of faith, the Church, the that redemptive action of both Son and very Body of Christ, and the great religious mother. A community dimension is families within the Church. In and through affirmed within the His Church He continues to offer salvation, healing, and life. He calls and invites each Assumption definition - a pro­ person to share in the intimate communion clamation of the fulfillment of the human of the Divine Persons. person eschatologically for all generations! St. Cyprian [d. 256] tells us that those who This foundational truth is at the heart of are saved will be able to know and love every truly human culture. The Triune God their own. This is in accordance with the creates us and we are destined for eternal dictates of human reason:

5 "What man, stationed in a foreign land, Just as the Father had given Eve to the first to be compared more to Christ than to the would not want to return to his country as Adam, Mary is raised up to Christ. Church? One task of theology is the soon as possible? Well, look upon paradise determination of suitable metaphors to as our country, and a great crowd of our n her assumption, Our Lady is perceived describe Mary in this mystery of loved ones awaits us there, a countless I as the personification of the Church. The redemption. throng of parents, brothers and children Church will join her at the end of the long for us to join them. world, in her perfection, as the Bride of The interior life of the Church has always Christ. This eventual glorification ofall the been expressed appropriately in the liturgy. "Assured though they are of their own saved is predicated upon a dual The mystery of the Assumption was salvation, they are still concerned about relationship: that of sin in the original celebrated within the very earliest liturgical ours. Adam and Eve, and with reconciliation in feast dedicated to Our Lady. The 1950 the second Adam and Eve, for the act of definition merely presented evidence that "What joy both for them and for us to redemption and the association of Son and this belief had been accepted as self-evident see one another and embrace! 0 the delight mother. and undisputed in nearly every age. of that heavenly kingdom where there is no fear of death! 0 the supreme and endless There is a parallel between Eve, being But the mystery is concordant with the bliss of everlasting life!" taken from the sleeping Adam, and the entire teaching of the Church in presenting "new spouse of Christ, the Church, being the Virgin as a type of the Church. God's The title "Bride of Christ" is applied to born as the new Adam falls asleep upon the providence brought the harmony of Mary's the Church and to Mary. It helps us to Cross." Mary persevered in faith tasks in salvation to a meaningful understand the relationship between Our throughout her life. Her glorification is completion in her going to heaven in body Lady and the glorified saints. This title had seen not only as a personal victory but as a and soul. been given to the Church from the earliest victory for the Church. As others have times. The Old Testament gives evidence pointed out, Mary's assumption, while a Contemplation of Mary in her physical to the covenant relationship between God personal triumph, is also a victory for the glory leads to a consideration of the and Israel. The New Testament describes entire Mystical Body and a pledge of the Church's corporeality. The visibility ofthe the Church as the new Israel and the Bride glory that is to come. From heaven, our Church, since Mary was taken to heaven as of Christ. The Church Fathers went beyond Blessed Mother intercedes for the Church its type, must be attributed to the Church as Pauline teaching to interpret the Old that carries on the struggle on earth, and part of its essence. In his encyclical Mystici Testament in this way. she subdues all heresies in God's own good Corporis (on the Mystical Body of Christ), time. written just prior to the definition, Pope This tradition goes back to the third Pius XII had already enunciated the visible century, when St. Hippolytus refers to the Members of the Church within the Iron nature of the Church: "They err in a matter Church as the Bride of Christ. By the Curtain had been able to continue to look of divine truth who hold that the Church is middle of that century he gives an up to her for deliverance from the invisible, intangible, something explanation of the Song of Origen, one of oppression ofatheistic communism in light 'pneumatological,' as some say" [no. 14]. his masterpieces. In it, he refers not only to of her assumptive glorification. In fact, the Church but to everyone as the Bride of Mary and the Church both overcame the The complete human being exists only Christ. By the 12th century in the West, the forces of death and evil. They both gave a when the incomplete substances of body golden age of contemplation, such naming new birth to humankind. Father Vincent and soul have been intimately associated in became common. St. Bernard, a follower of Vasey, S.M., wrote: a substantial union. Bodiliness is an Origen, makes an application of the term integral part of humankind. Body was in 86 sermons, first to the Church, then to "In one word, we cannot have God for made for soul, and soul for body. The soul single souls and finally to the Virgin. our Father if we refuse to have Mary and was made to reside in the body. Although the Church for mother. The Church is the the body is an enabler of the soul's ince the Bride of Christ title had been continuation ofthe Incarnation; hence, it is activities, it is wrong to teach that the body Sapplied to the Church and to all its the abiding place of Mary. All things have functions only as an instrument of the soul. members, it is easily applied to Mary , the come to her Church and to each soul in the Likewise, the body is an essential part of first member of the Church. Jesus the Church through Mary. The Church wants the Church's divine-life principle. It is Christ had died for His mother. In doing us to return to God by the same way He fitting for the Church to be visible in her so, He had redeemed her; He had sanctified came to us, through Mary." mission to bring divine life to humankind her. At the moment of her fiat, in an through the senses; the Church is visible anticipatory manner, Mary, the all-holy Mary presents a paradox to us for she is according to her very essence. one, was predestined from all eternity to be simply a creature, and yet she possesses the virginal God-bearer. She was her Son's singular relationships with the Father, the All aspects of redemption, of necessity, most obedient servant, a pre-eminent Son and the Holy Spirit. The faithful have take place within the Church, which is the woman of faith and the most faithful known and believed that Mary is truly the Mystical Body of Christ. Redemption can disciple. As Bride of Christ, she was type Theotokos. be accomplished only through the Church. of the Church. The redeemed must be drawn to the The problem that was to be presented at Church and consequently constitute her Mary's Bridal Motherhood refers to a the Second Vatican Council had already essence. This is why the Church possesses bond of love, a union of a mystical nature been anticipated. Is Mary to be placed at a physical aspect and why the physical between Jesus and Mary, in addition to the the side of Christ, facing us, or at the front cosmos must be included. The Church is physical mother-child relationship. Such a of humankind, facing her Son? Our Lady is visible, tangible, sensory and material, not relationship symbolizes the union of an intimate participant with her Son in the only spiritual. Father Otto Semmelroth bridegroom and bride, which is unique in mystery of salvation. She is also mother wrote: humankind. She is the bride of the Word and sister to us. She is one of us, a member Incarnate in a higher sense than we are. of the human family. She is the woman of "Once corporeality has been included in God gave His Son a bride "like himself." faith and first disciple. Is Mary, therefore, the Church, it ceases to be the "body of this

6 death." The somatic body becomes Analysis of the blood and fluid stains on "pneumatic," a body enlivens the Spirit of The Face-Cloth the cloth show that they covered the face of Christ. This physical nature of the world a man, and caught the blood and fluid becomes the sacramentum, the covering of Jesus coming from his nose and lungs (such as with the Divine Life of grace." Albert Walsh would occur if he died crucified). Intensive studies have been made of the blood and The body participates in the redemption [Note: A review of Mark Guscin's book, fluid stains. Those studies show the in relation to the extent that grace reigns in The Oviedo Cloth (Cambridge, England: location of the fingers of the one who held the Church, corporately and individually. Lutterworth Press, 1998.] this cloth to the crucified man's face and Christ dwells bodily in glory. The Church nose, as well as the length of the crucified will have her physical nature when she An ancient, blood-stained, linen cloth, 21 man's nose. Superimposed on the face enters into glory with the faithful. by 3 3. 5 inches long, rests in an ornate, image of the Holy Shroud of Turin, the Redemption will be completed at that antique oak chest in the "Sacred Room" stains on the front of the cloth show 70 moment, when a new heaven and a new (Camara Santa) of the Cathedral of Oviedo points of coincidence with the Shroud earth have come into being in the faithful. in northwest Spain. The cloth and chest image, and those on the reverse side of the Christ's death enables humankind to have been in the Cathedral since King cloth show 50 points of coincidence. The approach the Creator once again. But Alfonso II built the Camara Santa for it in only conclusion is that this cloth and the humankind must be willing to accept the 840 AD. A document copy in the Cathedral Shroud covered the same face. action of surrendering one's whole being to archives attests that on March 14, 1075 the the Father. As Father Semmelroth put it: chest was opened in the presence of King Every scientific test shows the Shroud Alfonso VI, his sister, various Bishops, and of Turin to be a first century relic, except "It will be taken away from him anyway Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (Spain's epic hero, the carbon-14 tests of 1988. Carbon-14 when he dies; man cannot prevent physical El Cid Campeador). lf it were an ordinary tests from three laboratories purport to death. Morally, however, he can renounce cloth, why take such trouble to preserve it? show the Shroud originated between 1260 the death with which he is burdened. Man It has no artistic or monetary value of and 1390 AD. But, if the face-cloth and can liken himself to the dying Redeemer, itself. Shroud covered the same face, the carbon- sacrificing and thus receiving Christ's 14 tests must be wrong, because the face­ redeeming death." Various historical documents refer to cloth was in existence long before 1260 the cloth. When the Persians captured AD. Carbon-14 tests can be notoriously As Mary subjectively underwent the Jerusalem in 614 AD, the cloth was taken inaccurate. The Oxford laboratory (which death of her Son in her own body, she to Alexandria, Egypt. After the Persians carbon-14 tested the Shroud) previously reflects the fully redeemed body of the captured Alexandria in 616 AD, the cloth reported a South African wall painting to Church. It was incumbent upon her to gain and its oak chest entered Spain at be 1,200 years old; it was in fact eleven perfection in body and soul. Her Son is Cartegena, came into the possession of St. years old. A Tucson, Arizona laboratory eternally glorified in His sacred humanity. Fulgentius, Bishop ofEcija, who gave them (also involved in testing the Shroud) dated He gains this same transfiguration for the to St. Leander of Seville. Later they were a Viking hom as originating in 2006 AD! entire Church. The Mystical Body receives taken to Toledo, and after the Moorish Carbon-14 testing requires clean material its personal oneness and archetypical conquest of Spain in 711 AD to an for testing. The Shroud fabric and blood­ stature in Mary, and she distributes those Asturias-mountain cave called Monsacro, stains are covered with a bio-plastic graces she receives from her Son. Mary about seven miles from Oviedo. (Oviedo material formed by the Lichenothelia mirrors the faithful as essential parts of the became the capitol of the first Christian fungus interacting with bacteria. Cleaning Church. They are temples of the Holy kingdom in Spain after the Moors the fabric for carbon-14 testing would Spirit in their bodies [see 1 Cor 6: 19]. • conquered Spain.) From the cave they were remove only about 10% of this bio-plastic moved to the Camara Santa in Oviedo material, not enough to validate the test. Cathedral. The famous Swiss Williard Libby, who got the Nobel Prize for Fr. Duggan, who holds a doctorate in criminologist, Dr. Max Frei, found pollen perfecting carbon-14 testing, has stated that sacred theology, is a priest of the on the cloth from Oviedo, Toledo, North the Shroud is too contaminated (with Archdiocese of San Francisco. Africa and Jerusalem. smoke and wax) to be carbon-14 tested. [Reprinted with permission from The Priest magazine.] Tradition has it that this cloth covered Rev. A. Dreisbach (Atlanta Inter­ the face of Jesus Christ, and that the blood national Centre for Continuing [Shroud] on the cloth is His Blood. In his Gospel Study) stated that " ... microscopic dirt (20:6-8), St. John states that when he and particles taken from the [Shroud's] foot Peter ran to Jesus' tomb on Easter morning. area... were . .. found to be travertine aragonite - a rare form of calcite also Simon Peter ... went into the tomb, and found near the Damascus Gate (i.e. the one saw the linen cloths lying there, and the closest to Golgotha) in Jerusalem. That handkerchief which had been about his finding was later confirmed by Dr. Levi head, not lying with the linen cloths, but Setti ... at the Enrico Fermi Laboratory in folded in a place by itself. Then the other Batavia, Illinois." disciple [John] also went in ... And he saw and believed. Conclusion: Jesus Christ truly rose from the dead. We have His burial Shroud and Some think that John believed in the face cloth. resurrection of Jesus because if grave robbers had stolen His Body, in their haste they would have taken His Body covered Albert C. Walsh, Copyright 2002 with His grave clothes.

7 US National Rosary Pilgrimage for the Sick and Handicapped

Auxiliary Chaplain Spiritual Director President & Founder Rev. George Twigg-Porter, S.J. Very Rev. Joseph P. Allen O.P. Sir John G. Hodgson, K.H.S. 300 Lake Street Prior, St. Dominic Priory 10018 Cedar Lane San Francisco, CA 94118-1398 77 E. Lucius A venue Kensington, MD 20895 Tel.: 415-831-0941 Fax: 415-751-1423 Youngstown, OH 44507 Tel.: 301-530-8963 Tel.: 330-783-1900 Fax: 330-783-2396

2002 1 48 h National Rosary Pilgrimage for Sick, Handicapped, Family Relatives and Friends to Lourdes

Celebrating very Rev. Joseph P. Allen, O.P.'s Silver Jubilee as Spiritual Director September 15-24, 2002

From New York JFK/Newark/Boston From Washington, DC (Dulles) From Chicago From San Francisco/Los Angeles

Thursday, Sept. 19 -Mass at Altar of St. Sunday, Sept. 15 - New York. Depart JFK Bernadette with renewal of Marriage International Airport for flight to Lourdes Wednesday, Sept. 18- Mass at the Grotto Vows. via Paris. of the Apparitions followed by, for those Penance Service 3pm St. Joseph Chapel. Monday, Sept. 16- Arrive Lourdes and able to participate, a walking tour of Friday, Sept. 20- Mass of Anointing, St. transfer by bus to your hotel. Remainder of Lourdes, visiting the places associated Joseph Chapel. Stations of the Cross. Holy the day is free. Evening: participate in the with the life of St. Bernadette: the Holy Mill Hour, 3pm St. Joseph Chapel. Candlelight Procession. where she was born; the Locade Mill, Saturday, Sept. 21- Mass Upper Basilica Tuesday, Sept.17 - Attend the Opening residence of her parents after 1846; the Immaculate Conception. (Optional Day Mass at St. Joseph's Chapel. Each day "Cachet," formerly used as a jail where she Excursion to Spain.) pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit lived at the time of the apparitions; the Sunday, Sept. 22-International Mass 9am the baths, miraculous waters and access to Hospital and Chapel where St. Bernadette Basilica St. Pius X. Blessed Sacrament the drinking fountains. Aide for the received her First Holy Communion and the Procession 4pm. Blessing of the Sick. physically handicapped will be available. Parish Church containing the Baptismal Monday, Sept. 23 - Mass at Grotto of We will participate in the afternoon pro­ Font where she was baptized. Apparitions. Pilgrimage closing with after­ cession of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Afternoon 2pm US National Reception noon Blessed Sacrament Procession, Blessing of the Sick and Solemn Benedic­ Hotel. Bless-ing ofthe Sick and Mass at St. Joseph tion. Evening: participate in the Candle­ Solitude. Chapel. light Procession. 4pm Blessed Sacrament Procession. Tuesday, Sept. 24- Depart by air for New York.

For more information, contact: Sir John Hodgson, K.H.S. 10018 Cedar Lane Kensington, MD 20895 Tel.: 301-530-8963

8 ST. JOSEPH PROVINCE DOMINICAN LAITY PROVINCIAL COUNCIL Dorothy Murphy, Provincial Robert J. Boehner is Moderator Council President, began her term of Region 2 (New York City, Long January 1, 2000. As Council Island, West Chester and Northern president, she is 1st Delegate to the New Jersey) and is in his first term DLIPC (Dominican Laity as Delegate 1 from the region.Bob International Provincial lives in Huntington, NY. He is an Council) .Dorothy is in her second Auto Equipment Operator. term as Moderator of Region 5 (Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia). She lives in Silver Spring, •. . .. MD and is a member of Bishop Fenwick Pro-chapter. Dorothy is a Program Manager in Maryland's Montgomery County Government. W illiam Lynch Provincial Council Vice President, began his Marie Soellner is Delegate 2 from term January 1, 2000. He is 2nd Region 2 and also served on earlier Delegate to DLIPC.Bill is in his provincial councils.Maria lives in second term as Moderator of Flushing, NY and is a member of Region 1 (New England states, Queen of the Rosary Chapter, Long Saratoga Springs, NY). He lives in Island, NY. She is a Professor of Milford, CT and is a member of St. Mathematics and Computer Mary Chapter, New Haven, CT. Science at Malloy College. Bill is an M.D. (retired) .

Anna Donnelly, Provincial Rose Marie Nathan is Region I Council Secretary, is Delegate 3 Assistant Moderator and is in her from Region 2. She has given second term as Delegate 2- from Provincial Council service by Region 1. She lives in West­ election and appointment for Springfield, MA and is Moderator several of the councils. She also of Mother of God Chapter.Rose provides a backup storage location Marie is a Registered Medical for the Provincial Private Tertiary Technologist (retired). Her lists.Anna lives in Jackson Heights, degrees: B.S. Biology and NY and is a member of Our Lady -.it :w · zv Chemistry; M.Ed. of the Assumption Chapter, New ....._ ____. York City, NY. She is a research team member for "Project OPUS: A History of the Order of Preachers in the United States." She is an Associate Professor and Reference Librarian at St. John's College.

Mary Hurley is Delegate 3 from James Mitson is moderator of Region 1 and is in her second Region 3 (Western New York) and term.She lives in Little Compton, is in his second term as Delegate 1 RI and is Sub-moderator of St. to the Provincial Council.Jim lives Thomas Aquinas Chapter, in Syracuse, NY and is a member Providence, Rl. Mary is a of St. Louis Bertrand Chapter. He Homemaker and teacher with is Deputy Chief of Syracuse Fire degrees in Education and Arts. Department (retired). Joseph DiMaio is Sub-moderator Doris Stukes, Past Provincial of Region 3 and is in his second President; Region V term as Delegate 2 to the Representative for Private Provincial Council.] oe lives in Tertiaries, is in her first term Amherst, NY and is Moderator of as Delegate 3 to the Provincial Immaculate Heart of Mary Council. She has served the Chapter, Buffalo, NY. He is a Province and Region 5 for many Corporate Controller (retired). years and is currently a mentor to some of its chapters.Doris lives in Washington, DC and is a member of St Martin de Porres Chapter, McLean, VA. She is a Quality Manager and Data Analyst (retired).

Gerald McLaughlin is Delegate Raymond Hutter is Moderator of 3 from Region 3 and is in his first Region 6 and in his second term as term.Jerry lives in Elmira, NY and Delegate 1 to the Provincial is Moderator of Mary, the Queen Council.Ray lives in Beavercreek, of Apostles Chapter. He is a Field OH and is moderator of Our Lady Engineer for NCR Corporation of Peace Chapter, Cincinnati, OH. (retired). He is a Systems Engineer (retired).

Margaret Tierney is Acting Mary Lou Gregory is Delegate 2 Moderator (formerly Assistant from Region 6 and is in her second Moderator) of Region 4 and is in term on the Provincial her second term as Delegate 2 to Council.Mary Lou lives in the Provincial Council. Marge lives Louisville, KY and is Moderator of in Philadelphia, PA and is Past Our Lady Queen of Peace Moderator of Our Lady of Prouille Chapter.She is a Social Security Chapter, Elkins Park, PA. She is a Appeals Clerk. Lead Financial Management Analyst.

Robert Dufour, Provincial Council Representative to the r------, National Institute ofWord of God Board of Directors; Provincial Council Representative for the Linda Gottbrath is Acting Dominican Laity web page on the Assistant Moderator and Secretary St. Joseph Province web site.He is for Region 6 and is in her first term Sub-moderator of' Region 5 and is as 2nd d Alternate Delegate to the in his second term as Delegate 2 to Provincial Council. Linda lives in the Provincial Council. Bob lives in Louisville, KY and is a member of Baltimore, MD and is a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapter. St Pius V Pro-chapter, Catonsville, She is in politics and is currently a MD. He is a Computer candidate for State Representative. t...... ll.--~------' Programmer. Very Rev. Joseph P. Allen, O.P., Albert Barone, Torch-lites Provincial Promoter has guided the Managing Editor. It was Autumn, Dominican Laity in St. Joseph 1978 when AI Barone, Private Province for 25 years, adding this Tertiary, agreed to take on the apostolate to his many other duties duties of Torch-lives editor and for the Order. His leadership, both coordinator for his friend Fr. Joseph spiritual and managerial, has aided Allen. Between them, Torch-lives the Dominican Laity of the has evolved from a simple Province in their quest to be well Provincial newsletter to an formed adults in the Faith and true informative, educational tool for participants in the mission of the spiritual growth and apostolate order. Fr. Allen lives in Youngstown, guidance for the third millennium OH where he is Prior and Pastor at St. Dominic Priory. He Dominican Laity. The job has lasted 24 years. Al lives in has been a Dominican priest for 35 years. Orlando, FL. He plans to retire at 80.

Laurie Biszko, Past Provincial Council President, is North American Delegate to ICLDF (International Council for Lay Dominican Fraternities). She represents the fraternities in Canada, United States and Mexico. Laurie lives in Tiverton, RI and is a Acting Moderator of Mother of Mercy Pro-chapter. She is Vice-president of Advance Engineering and a teacher with an M.S. in Engineering and Finance.

Margaret Evans, Harry Evans, Provincial Private Tertiary Computer Aide, is Marge's Representative for the husband. He was recruited in Province, is a Past 1997 to add his expertise to her moderator of Region limited computer knowledge by 4.Marge lives in North designing programs and layouts Wales, PA and is past for better structure. He also moderator of Our Lady provides a backup computer of Prouille Chapter, storage location for the Provincial Elkins Park PA. She is membership lists.Harry is a a Homemaker and Mechanical Engineer (retired) Freelance writer. and began computer teaching and programming in 1970.

The Our Father places us original sin and into a world damaged by he urges each of us to name God as "our sin. But God "has delivered us from the Father." in direct continuity with dominion of darkness and transferred us to the Apostles and through the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom One of the great sorrows of the human them with Jesus as He we have redemption, the forgiveness of experience and one of the great afflictions sins" (Coil: 13-14). St. Paul speaks of this of the Church is how reluctant we have instructs us on how justifying mercy of God often, especially in been to accept this teaching and how slow to turn to God. his Letter to the Romans. we as Christians have been to implement it. The divisions and violence, the wars and The opening of the Lord's Prayer reminds animosities that characterize so much of us that we can call God our Father because history rue part also of the Christian The Lord's Prayer of the generous outpouring of his Holy experience. Too often we have been Bishop Donald Wuerl Spirit on everyone who proclaims Jesus as prepared to place our personal, cultural, esus himself gave us a special prayer, Lord. The first of all God's gifts is the gift economic and ethnic interests above the the Our Father (cf. Mt 6:913).The of himself. He desires to give himself to us claims of the Gospel. In the Lord's Prayer, JChurch celebrates this as its most perfectly in eternal life. But that giving Jesus challenges us to recognize that God cherished prayer. It has been given a begins now. is our Father and that we are his children central place at Mass and in all liturgical members of the same family. worship, and is commended to all. For in God's presence with us as our Father is this prayer, which has been called a far more significant than the presence of In saluting God our Father we "summary of the whole Gospel," Christ God as creator and Lord of all that is. To recognize his utter transcendence. We teaches us two things: the spirit in which those who love and believe him, he is pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven". As we should pray, and the things for which present in a rich new way. He is present as close as God is to us through his Holy we must ask. friend, with personal affection; he is Spirit and in Jesus Christ, he is still utterly present transforming and making us beyond us, transcendent, all holy and There are few prayers that should be so children by adoption and sharers in his infinite. God's power and majesty are regularly on our lips and in our heart. The nature. He is present to unite us to himself limitless. In the creeds of the Church we Lord's Prayer is the first of these. We can (cf. Jn 17:22-23). He is present that he may profess our belief in God the Father imagine the Apostles' excitement when, in be known. He wishes all to grow in Almighty. The Church proclaims the glory response to their request for guidance in holiness and the life of prayer that we may of God as stated by the fathers of the First how they were to pray, their Divine Master more and more taste his presence as saints Vatican Council: "There is one true and would give them, not words of and mystics of every age have done. living God, creator and Lord of heaven and encouragement to pray, but the actual earth, almighty, eternal, immeasurable, prayer itself. The slow and careful praying Though he remains God and we incomprehensible, infinite in intellect, in of the Our Father places us in direct remain creatures, somehow we are closely will and in every perfection." continuity with the Apostles and through joined to him. We share his life. We them with Jesus as he gathers his Church remain always finite and distinct from him While God is ever with us and always and instructs us on how we are to turn our who is the infinite Lord of all. But the present to the world he made, he is utterly hearts and minds to God. mystery that transcends our understanding distinct from the world. Every kind of is that somehow God becomes so close to pantheism, every tendency to identify God The opening words from which the prayer us that we can call him Father. with the world or to see him as some takes its name "Our Father" bring us face dimension or aspect of the visible creation, to face with the extraordinary revelation of If God is our Father, then somehow we utterly fails to grasp the - greatness of Jesus. He alone is the true, natural Son of must be brothers and sisters. Just as we can God is transcendent, he is exalted far above God. Jesus is God from God, light from call God our Father, we must be prepared the universe, for it exists only at his light, true God from true God - only to see in each other a level of identification bidding. His changeless and eternal reality begotten Son of the Father. Yet he came that makes it possible for us to be brothers is in its perfection entirely distinct from the among us so that he could make us heirs to and sisters of each other. This is at the dependent reality of infinite things. his inheritance. Through his death and heart of the Christian community - the "Behold, heaven, even highest heaven resurrection, which we share through our Church. We are one with each other cannot contain him" (2 Chr 2:6). baptism and participation in the Eucharist, because we are one with Jesus the Lord. we become God's adopted children. In While we might identify with other groups Scripture frequently expresses God's writing to the Galatians, St. Paul makes through our blood ties, ethnic origins or otherness by proclaiming that he is tllis very clear: "But when the time had cultural relationships, there is one reality perfectly holy. He is "the Holy One" (Is fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of that brings us together in a way that 5:24). His holiness is far more than woman, born under the law, to redeem supersedes all these other bonds: union freedom from any touch of moral evil, for those who were under the law, so that we with each other in Christ. God cannot sin. References to God's might receive adoption as sons. And holiness express more than his hostility to because you are sons, God has sent the To pray to God as our Father is to moral evil that wounds or bruises creation Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ' recognize that we have responsibilities to and calls for punishment. God's holiness Abba! Father!' So through God you are no each other as members of the same family. refers to his complete otherness from us. longer a slave but a son, and if a son then We are not a cultural, political, economic He is "Our Father who art in heaven." an heir" (Gal4:4-7). or social entity. We are a faith community. If our faith is strong enough to recognize Because God is so far exalted above all We have been called to this unique how deep our spiritual bonds are, we can things, the creature cannot personally be relationship with God out of our former accomplish that communion, that worthy even to gaze on or to speak to God; and sinful state. Each person is born in community life, that manifestation of the but this same perfection is also the root of kingdom of God which Jesus calls for when that divine mercy which heals sinners and

9 calls them to communion with God. When "if I only touch His cloak I will be saved" we pray to our Father who art in heaven, The Eucharistic (Mt 9:20-21) and her faith cured her. we recognize that it is the holiness of God which attracts the human heart because of Presence of Jesus: They are lost in thought whether such a the goodness it implies, a goodness of such blessing can come their way. They have not intensity that it touches the sinful heart A Personal realized that Christ can still work the same with awe and reverential fear. The splendor miracles for those who believe in Him and and holiness of God must be taken Experience give themselves to Him. He is ever ready to seriously. He who is holy and requires Kuha lndyet, C.S.S.p. listen to our prayers and give us our hearts' holiness is the Lord and judge of all. The desires. fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom t a retreat a young parishioner had (cf. Prv 1:7). asked me how Jesus can be in many A personal encounter with the person of Aplaces through the tabernacles at the Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament has In revealing God as our Father, Jesus same time. In response I tried to let him sustained my faith in the Church. also highlights that our God is a personal understand that Jesus Christ is God and God. He relates to us not just as creator to thus omnipresent. Consequently, he can be I was born in 1971 and at the age offour creature, not just as maker to artifact, but at many places at the same time. my father had taken me to the village as father to children. Prayerfully, church to watch a Christian film during reverently, conscientiously we reflect on The question my parishioner asked Easter. I think the film could have been Our Father who art in heaven. • reminded me of a question an atheist asked "Jesus of Nazareth." The film was shown a missionary bishop: "How is it possible by a Holy Ghost priest, a Spiritan, - then For Further Reflection. . that bread and wine should become the the Holy Ghost Fathers were evangelizing flesh and blood of Christ?" my people. As I saw this tall and huge Why is the Our. Father a special prayer? European, dressed in white cassock, with a What can we learn from praying it slowly The bishop answered, "you were small black cincture tied round his waist, I turned and carefully?" .. when you were born, you grew big because to my father and said: "I would like to be What does it mean to call God "our your body changed the food you took into like that man when I grow up." Father"? flesh and blood, then God can do it far What prevents us from accepting one more easily." From my encounter with the Holy Ghost another as brothers and sisters? Missionary, my only desire in life would be What does it mean to be a faith The atheist continued: "How is it to be a priest. This dream of becoming a community? possible for Jesus to be wholly and entirely priest motivated me to start school at an What does it mean to say that God is present in a little Host?" The bishop age of five, at that time to go to school at always with us end yet utterly distinct from answered: "Look at the landscape before five years was considered an early age in tl1e world? you and consider how much smaller your my village. Why is the human .heart attracted to, God? eye is in comparison to it. Now within your What makes our God a personal. God? little eye there is an image of this vast When I becanle literate, I could read a countryside. Can God not do in reality, in lot of books about my faith. I had joined a his Person, what is done in us by way of a lot of societies in the church which enabled Bishop Wuerl of Pittsburgh is co-editor of likeness or image?" me to learn much about the Catholic faith. The Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Through the Sacred Heart and the Legion Catechism for Adults. Then the atheist mustered courage to of Mary, I developed great love for Jesus in ask his last question. "How is it possible for the Blessed Sacrament. With the Sacred the same body to be present at the same Heart Society, we observed the First Friday time in all your churches in all the of every month, that meant we had to go to Deceased Members consecrated Hosts?" The bishop replied, confession on Thursday and prepare "Nothing is impossible with God - and ourselves to receive communion on Friday. Mary Kowalczewski - Buffalo, NY- 4/10/01 this answer ought to be enough. But nature For our local community, this meant we Dolores Crowe- Kenmore, NY- 7/12/01 also answers this question. Let us take a had to go and keep vigil with the Lord on Julia Herman - St. Augustine, FL - 9/4/01 mirror, throw it down on the floor and let Thursday. During the vigil the priest would Daniel Casper- Buffalo, NY- 12/4/01 it break into pieces. Every piece can carry expose the Blessed Sacrament and we Alberta Brandon- Yeardon, PA- 12/26/01 the same image that the whole mirror would adore Jesus in it until day break Esther Fonseca- Signal Mtn, TN - 02 formerly reproduced. Likewise, the self­ Mildred Wood- Providence, RI- l/02 when we would attend Mass. My intention same Jesus reproduces Himself, not as a throughout the night vigils I attended as a Irene Pokinski - Williamsburg, NY - 2/2/02 mere likeness, but as a reality, in every Stephen Przygocki- Lackawanna, NY- 3/7/02 teenager was for God to help me become a Fr. Benedict Ehmann-Rochester, NY- 3/11/02 consecrated Host. He is truly present in priest. Angeline Khunpp- Buffalo, NY - 3/11/02 Paul each one of them. Buczek - W. Senaca, NY - 3/18/02 Apart from the monthly vigils, since I Ann Hennessy - Buffalo, NY 3/19/02 As Catholics we are blessed with the developed such love for Jesus in the Robert O'Brien- Lackawanna, NY- 3/21/02 Eucharistic Presence of Jesus on a daily Blessed Sacrament, I was fond of going Margaret Kilkenney- 3/28/02 basis, when the Mass is celebrated, when and keeping Him company. During my Ann Martin- Presque Isle, ME- 4/1/02 He is kept in the tabernacle, but the irony is Joseph Drabek- Buffalo, NY- 4/10/02 visits to him I would remind Him about my that some Catholics have not discovered intention to be a priest. Antonina DeCesare - Buffalo, NY - 4/20/02 this treasure and as a consequence are Juliano Gonsalves- New Haven, CT- 4/21102 marveled when they read about Jesus' Fr. Paul Bernadin, OP- 4129102 At the completion of my secondary Muriel Berard - Providence, RI - 5/1102 calming of the storms in the Gospel (cfMk education in 1988, I was admitted into the Charles Dolan - Providence, RI - 5/20/02 4:35-41). They wonder at the cure of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost in 1989. In Lucienne Anair- Ware, MA- 5/22/02 woman who had severe bleeding when she my initial formation, I always told Jesus at Therese Passineau- W. Sprgfld, MA- 6/3/02 touched the cloak of Jesus with faith that Mass and during my private visits to Him

10 in the tabernacle to see me through my some inquiries from parishioners, I got formation. some who were more than willing to Holy Rosary participate in the venture and so we Our formation gives us an opportunity to established an educational fund to help the Chapter News have a say in where we would like to work. talented but needy students. So before I completed my theological October 2002 will be a busy month for studies in 1999 I was asked to choose three At the end of my probation, the bishop Holy Rosary Chapter #42 in Camden, NJ. countries I would like to work in. I never of the diocese placed a special demand for October 5th is our annual Rosary Sunday. chose a country but gave three areas I me and asked my superior if I could help The event, hosted by the Dominican Sisters would like to work in: communication, out in the diocese in the communication of the Perpetual Rosary, is a special day in parish work and youth apostolate. department. The request was granted. our diocese. The faithful from throughout the area will converge on the Monastery, Based on this the superior general of our After my ordination I came back to the and will pray the rosary in a procession, congregation appointed me to work in diocese where I am now working. with the statue of Our Lady, traversing the Ghana. This was in 1999, the year I was to Surprisingly, all the request I put to Jesus grounds of the Monastery which will end at be ordained. However, contrary to my areas before the Blessed Sacrament are the beautiful Lourdes Grotto. of interest, I was told that I would be answered: The bishop has put me on the working in a rural area - there I would media commission of the diocese, I am still Our celebration will end back at the not have time to practice my working in the parish and I am the youth chapel with the distribution of Blessed communication skills. I had accepted the chaplain. Roses. offer then started preparing for my ordination until the unexpected happened. As a philosopher once said, "We live our All are welcome to attend. It will surely lives forward but we understand it be a wonderfully spiritual day for all. About one and a half months to my backward." When I reflect over all that has ordination, my regional superior had sent happened which has brought me to the On October 12, 2002, the Chapel will be a letter to me that my ordination was place I am to practice my skills and have host to the Region 4 meeting. We have a suspended. No reason was given. Tempers job satisfaction, I believe God has listened few special surprises for our guests that went high, my friends and my local to the many prayers I offered before Jesus day! superior could not understand such a in the tabernacle. decision and were enraged. But on my part A Day of Recollection is set for Oct. I remained calm, I was not perturbed. I told Through my prayers He withdrew me 20th. Fr. Anthony Cataudo, O.P. will be God that if He called me then He knew the from a rural parish, which, if I had gone to, our retreat master. reason for the delay. my talents would have remained untapped, and brought me to a place where my talents We have great plans for our chapter: a What I rather did was to take 21 days of could be used for the growth of the Church. new office, meeting room, formation room, my holiday time to spend time with the and new library. Lord and tell Him my concerns. During It is now I realize that my suspension these days I prayed for three hours before was meant to let God actualize His plan for We look forward to seeing all who the Blessed Sacrament and reminded Jesus me. come. • about my request, my zeal to practice my communication skills. I told God that since With all these experiences, I can say with He is the one who called me He should Kathleen Byrant: give me the graces sufficient for me to accept my state of life - a deacon who "I am convinced that the ability to reflect would stay out of the seminary for an on an experience, pray over it, and learn indefinite time before ordination. from it is a the key to a spirituality of the future. No matter what life presents to us, At the end of my holiday I reported to there is a kernel of wisdom hidden in each my regional superior in Ghana and he sent experience. We believe that 'God makes all me to a different diocese. He could not things work together for the good.' send me to the place he had told me he had Sometimes it takes some reflecting before in mind. we can recognize the good."

As I started working in my new My spirituality as a priest then hinges on mission, I discovered that I could use the keeping Jesus company in the Blessed modem means of communication for Sacrament, a eucharistic spirituality. • evangelization: I organized radio programs, started a magazine for the Fr. Indyer, C.S.Sp. Holy Ghost parish, trained some youths in com­ Missionaries Bolgatanga, Ghana, West munication skills, etc. I also engaged in Africa. pastoral ministry and I was asked to be the [Reprinted with permission of The Priest youth chaplain in the parish. With my magazine.] interaction with the youth I realized that some could not go to school because their parents had no money to sponsor their education.

This brought about the idea of establishing an educational fund. After

11 maintained at Providence College. accompanied the breath of his apostolic Summary of the Councilors enjoyed a special tour of the zeal, for the preaching of the Gospel John Paul II Cultural Center. • message, intent always on the salvation Provincial Council and happiness of souls. He was a true and glorious son of this highly, favored, Annual Meeting "daughter of Jerusalem", the Great Mother Anna Donnelly of God, Mary, Most Holy, the Queen and Messianic Joy mother of all messianic joy and apostolic he Provincial Council of Dominican zeal. She being the first to receive this Laity met April 28-30 at Centro for the "mighty savior in her midst"; the first to T Maria residence, Washington, DC. contemplate this mystery of the Word, and New Moderator Dorothy Murphy (Region Third Millennium to hold Him deep within her, body and 5) and sixteen other voting delegates from Mary Hurley, O.P. soul; and the first to go forth, to carry Him the Eastern Province's 6 regions, together to others. St. Dominic was an apostle with Provincial Promoter Very Rev. Joseph "Shout for joy, 0 daughter of Jerusalem! deeply rooted and steeped within this P. Allen, OP, were joined by Torch-lists Sing joyfully 0 Israel! chosen, "daughter of Jerusalem", the good editor Albert Barone. Dorothy encouraged Be glad and exult with all your heart, soil, of the Word of the Gospel, that great all to be forward-thinking in the Council's 0 daughter Jerusalem! depository of messianic joy! deliberations. Regional officers were urged The Lord has removed the judgment to review the currency and correctness of against you. In the summer of 2001, the General all names/addresses within each of their He has turned away your enemies. Chapter of St. Dominic's Order of chapters, and to convey updated lists to Mr. The King of Israel, the Lord is in your Preachers was held at Providence College, Barone. Region officers will be reporting to midst, Providence, Rl. I had the delightful their chapters on other procedural matters, You have no further misfortune to fear, On experience of being invited to the Dominic including use of approved election forms, that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear Family Day. It seemed a sea of white as the raised in Council. Dorothy requested being not, 0 Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord three branches of Dominic's apostolic tree, informed of upcoming regional council your God is in your midst joyfully shared with one another, in a close meetings in order to attend as many as A mighty savior; affinity of common prayer and mission. possible. Fr. Allen noted positive signs of He will rejoice over you with gladness, This timely, impressive gathering of St. growth among the laity, as did regional And renew you in his love. Dominic's children, around the newly reports. Communication throughout the He will sing joyfully because of you, elected Master General, at the beginning of regions was seen as essential. As one sings at festivals". Z.eph.3 :14-17 the third millennium, was an inspiring, graced and joyful moment for all of us who The Council applauded outgoing n all of Sacred Scripture, this is surely were there, religious and laity alike. Private Tertiary representative Marge I one of the most delightful, prophetic Evans (Region 4) for her sustained passages of promised restoration! At least Having recently been elected, third excellence in data keeping, twice during the liturgical year, we hear it delegate of the New England Region , to communication, and formation activities being read in the Liturgy of the Word, the Provincial Council, I made a request, or with persons outside chapters. A new during the Holy Sacrifice ofthe Mass; once perhaps a recommendation, to be representative will be chosen this year. at the culmination of the advent season, considered by Fr. Allen and the Provincial Noted also was the publication in late just four days before Christmas, that great Council delegates, at the Provincial 2001of Dominicans at Home in a Young feast and season ofjoy ; and today May 31" Council meeting, held in Washington, DC, Nation, 1786-1865, first volume of the the feast of the Visitation, that holy, joyous this past April. Following the lead of, and projected three-volume unified history of encounter between two, holy women, one in response to the mind and heart of this the Order ofPreachers in the United States, the highly, favored, "daughter of recent General Chapter, concerning the the only one of its kind [$27.50 Jerusalem", Mary, the mother of the Lord, vocation of the Dominican Laity, within from/payable to Project OPUS, 5082 W. and the other her older righteous cousin, the Order of Preachers, and the essential Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60644]. Elizabeth; and their two extraordinary, role they must play within the Church, the unborn sons, one the mighty savior, the Order and the world, I asked that all Past Council Moderator Doris Stukes King of Israel, the other his chosen chapters, of the Province of St. Joseph, (Region 5) offered a stimulating precursor and forerunner. John, hidden consider the prayerful study of the presentation on formation, testifying to her within his mother's womb, leaps with joy, magisterial documents, concerning the own strong Dominican witness, and as the Word of Mary's greeting penetrates apostolate of the laity, in the modem emphasizing the need for maintaining his soul;. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy world, and it's sharing in the salvific excellent initial and ongoing formation Spirit, bursts forth into joyful praise; and mission of the Church: Lumen Gentium, programs in each chapter. Laurie Biszko Mary sings the Magnificat, ringing and Chapter VI, The Laity and the Apostolican (Region 1), immediate past moderator of overflowing with the messianic joy, of the Actuostatem, both issued by the Church the Provincial Council reported on the "oil of gladness". Zephaniah's, glad Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, to General Chapter of the Order held July­ prophecy, of exultant, messianic the lay faithful, appealing to them to carry Aug 2001 at Providence College. She restoration, taking place before their very out it's priestly, prophetic and kingly pointed out the truly multi-cultural and eyes. mission in the world. Also John Paul II's global aspects of the Order, and in apostolic exhortation addressing the laity: particular a formal declaration addressing s I begin, on the feast of the Visitation, Chrisi tifede les Laici, concerning their role, procedure for dispensation from the Order A to write this article for Torch-lites, at in the transformation of the secular culture, for Dominican Laity. Means of chapter Fr. Joseph Allen's request, I am struck at by living faithfully, according to the truth support for the Province's Capital how deeply this passage touches my of the Gospel; and also the Dominican Campaign were also discussed, as well as Dominican soul. Joy is perhaps St. publication: Dominican Laity: History, proposals for updating the Dominican Dominic's most striking commentary. Joy Purpose, Spirituality stressing the Laity's portion of the Province's web site was the countenance that continually irreplaceable role of the laity, within the

12 Order and the Church. Doing this we will mystically enclosed within the very womb, be better able to take our rightful and the Holy Spirit first overshadowed and From the Desk of necessary place within the Church and conceived the Word, and the womb the within the Order of Preachers, as true sons Holy Spirit continues to overshadow today, Dorothy Murphy and daughters of St. Dominic; bearing even until the consummation of the world. witness to Christ, "the King of Israel, the She, the dwelling place of the Most High hen asked to submit a brief article for Lord", not only in the example of our lives, God, that garden of delight, will take us up Wthis issue of Torchlite, I inquired if but also by "helping on the side of truth", into herself, the "new Jerusalem"; and we there were any particular themes or topics in the exposition, defense and the sweet will experience, even here in our exile, I should address. No, not in particular persuasion of Gospel Truth. This for the being brought home; unmistakingly came the answer but maybe you can write renewal and restoration of the temporal certain, of where we are, and of whom we about your vision of or wishes for the Third order, to be as it were, a much needed belong to. Order. Like much in life this was such a "leaven in the world"; a world sinking into 0 , "daughter of Jerusalem", cause of our simple statement but so difficult to answer. the darkness of its own light, in desperate joy, pray for us, we the sons and daughters Prayers for inspiration seemed to be need of the authentic messianic joy of the of St. Dominic, that the "Lord will rejoice unanswered so I went out to the garden and Gospel, capable of exchanging "new life", over us with gladness and renew us in his in the mindlessness of toil of plucking and for the deadly sadness and stranglehold of love!" zepn.3: 17 • planting it came to me- a little summary sin. of the Dominican vocation of gardening. Mrs. Hurley, wife and mother, is sub­ I would also like to recommend for moderator of St. Thomas Aquinas Chapter, It seems a surprising at first glance that consideration and perhaps as a first Providence College, Providence, RI. Dante, in listing the great saints of heaven priority, as the best place to begin, in his Canto XII, allocated Dominic the something that Holy Father commends and role of "husbandman" or "gardener." But, strongly encourages all the People of God if we read this section carefully after some to do. That is, to take Mary, that highly, meditation, we might replace all those favored, "daughter of Jerusalem" into the statues in our gardens of good and gentle interior home of their hearts, and there Francis with Dominic. consecrate themselves, personally to Christ and His messianic mission of restoration, Dante says speaks of "the marvelous through, with and in her maternal fruit which should issue from him and embrace. He assures all of us, that by from his heirs." He further describes him surrendering our lives into her care, we as tending the garden not for the world but will indeed, behold our mother, and the for love of the true manna. He became "in sweetness of her presence. He highly short time a great teacher such that he set praises Stlouis de Montfort, that holy and himself to go about the vineyard .... with admirable son ofMary, and of St. Dominic, doctrine and with will, together with the and recommends his method, of Total ~ight apostolic office, he went forth like a Consecration to Jesus through Mary, as torrent. .... from him thereafter flowed a most perfect means of renewing one's o~ tlte Cltullch, divers brooks whereby the catholic garden Baptismal Vows. He speaks of this Marian is watered. " consecration as a most integral part of his interior life and spiritual theology. COoctoll What makes a great garden? It must be planned and balanced. If not, on the one Holy Father, like St. Dominic, has an o~ tllutlt. hand it is sterile and on the other intense passion for Sacred Truth. This overgrown and riotous. It must allow for great, warrior apostle has prepared for, and CRo~e the individual characteristics of each plant crossed the threshold of the third so that each can thrive within the whole. millennium, hand in hand with her, o~ patiettee. The forget-me-not is as important as the holding high the torch of Truth, who is her sunflower. It must be tended carefully, son, intent on ushering in a new watered and nurtured. It must be guarded civilization of love. He has sounded the 9volly and protected from the predators and pests. battle cry, and an army is now gathering But, in the end it must be productive and around him, taking as their own, his motto, o~ clta~tity. give fruit whether roses for Mary's altar or Totus Tuus, intimately aware of her tomatoes for the family picnic. Is it no powerful maternal participation in the Holy g'lle~y wonder that the garden is so symbolic to Spirit's mission of restoration. Here, within us. Scripture tells us man lived in the her, all will discover that well-spring of dwpeMe tlte garden before the fall and reclaiming this messianic joy; that authentic joy, that so garden is man's eternal quest. Christ profoundly permeated and burned within, wate~ o~ wwdom: prayed in a garden, Christ was buried in a St. Dominic's, Marian soul. This joy was garden. No wonder Dante sets his vision of the very breath, beneath the two great 'cplleacltell paradise in a garden. wings of his spirituality: deep contemplative prayer and apostolic zeal; o~ gllace To have a really successful garden one soaring upward to God, the other before the first seed is planted or spade swooping downward toward his neighbor. turned there is a great deal of study We must be certain of this, St.Dominic, a unite~ to required. What are the characteristics of most holy and devoted son of Mary, made the soil in your garden, is it well drained or his home within her, and there, drank tlte b~e~ed. too dry, when are certain areas in the sun deeply from the fountain of Divine Truth; or shade. You need to know about the

13 plants, how much water do they need, are in law" or "legal" that didn't mean that it th~ ~eeds of the Church has not slackened. they full-~un or part-shade, soil enriching was ~or~ or good. For example, he said, His Impact on the Dominican Laity of St. or depletmg. All these things are studied abortion IS allowed by law but it is not Joseph Province has astonished us all. His and then thought over, and over. Only after morally right. He gave a few other length o~ influence will long outlast his study and contemplation do we to leave the examples of legal but immoral conduct. twenty-stx years as Provincial Promoter. armchair and go out and start to tum the The lady asked him if he had learned this soil. Now it is labor, pure and simple, and at Maryland University and he said no it often backbreaking drudgery. Sometimes, came from hi~ Sunday school, or really The Accomplishments you have to let go realizing that in spite of CCD. He contmued that Catholic children ~ - Knowledge and understanding were best efforts some things will not thrive in in public school go to classes called CCD Imparted to the committees drafting a this particular garden. You always have to and he remembered this from one of his "Revised Rule for the Dominican Laity" in be ready to prune, cutting away, clearing classes. Then he laughed and said "I bet light of Canon Law changes. out. You have to be on guard against the my 5th grade teacher would be surprised to predators You have to be alert to some know that I actually learned this or 2. The Provincial Laity Council has element that has changed requiring you to anything from her because I was such a become a cohesive, experienced leadership make changes also - the neighbor's tree troubl~ maker." When I heard that laugh I body. now shades a comer. You will have to try knew It. It was the same only a little deeper something new. But, in the end, by the than ten years earlier.! said "Rodney, how 3: Provincial Norms have been adopted to grace of God, when the squash piles up or are you." atd chapter management in its roles. the cosmos bear a riot of blooms you have blessings to share, the great harvest. You never know when the seed will bear 4. Formation was defined, established and fruit. Happy gardening! • published for incoming and ongoing What has this to do with the Dominican membership. Third Order? Dante said that Dominic first studied, then went forth teaching with Dorothy Murphy is the new president of 5. Region leadership has taken on new ~octrine , ~th will, with apostolic work the Provincial Council of the Province of responsibilities and representation. mto the vmeyard and says that his heirs Saint Joseph (see center-fold). will do the same. We have been called as 6. New leaders and teachers continue to his heirs. As such through chapter life, we emerge, beginning in the chapter ranks. are to study, contemplate, plan and pray for the will to labor as true gardeners. As Memories and 7. Torch-lites has grown into a worthy Dominican laity, we have the unique p~bli~ation for our spiritual and apostolate advantage of not having to go into the Accolades directiOn and communication with the vineyard as outsiders because we actually order. live in that vineyard. We are always there Marge Evans, O.P. to ~end, to wa~er, to nourish. This gives a 8. The Dominican Laity has found its umque quahty to our vocation as he Very Reverend Joseph P. Allen has recently been appointed as our appli~~tion . of the Order's apostolate Dominican Laity. T pnonttes m parish and diocesan Pro~ncial Director. He comes to the newly stewardship and ministries- and beyond. Our chapters require the same care as appomted position with a deep sense of the garden. We too have to study, to concern for the Third Order of St. Dominic and realization that the Provincial and 9. We are immature children no longer but contemplate, to pray so that we have educated adults formed in the Faith and the become the "heirs" of which Dante writes. council have placed a great deal of hope and trust in his capabilities to administer to order, ready and eager to take on our roles We need to regulate our chapter life so that in God's plan. all can contribute - we can't let tall tea the demanding needs of the Dominican Laity in a changing Church. roses always dominate the lily of the valley. 10. We continue to pray first, last and ~ut on the other hand the lily has to realize before all else. We study to have something It has much to contribute and needs to do worthwhile to impart. We teach our own so that. We have to read the signs of our The year was 1976, and this opening paragraph of Torch-lites July-August Issue that others will continue the apostolates garden and be willing to try some new and mission of the Order. plants to increase the harvest. We need to mtroduced Fr. Allen to the Dominican realize that pruning is necessary and old Laity of St. Joseph Province. plants sometimes have to be reshaped if we "Administrative capabilities", "imaginative planning" and "zeal" described his Leader, teacher, father, brother, friend, want them to continue to thrive. Finally we God has etched you on our hearts. With have to stand and labor in the soil in which char~cter for us. We saw a boyish face peenng at us through a camera lens and deepest gratitude, for lessons learned for we are planted. We have to stop being the trust and friendship earned, for the good ~ondered ~hat impact and length of elm tree that thinks it would be happier in you have done for us, in God's Name we the pine forest. mfluence this young priest would have on the Laity. thank you - and Him. God bless you.' Fin~lly, we must never be discouraged when It seems our planting has failed. A while back, I was standing at the counter of There is mystery no longer. Fr. Allen the public library waiting to check out visited, examined and detennined our books. A few feet in front of me two needs. His talents exploded into organized employees with backs turned were talking response and direction and we were caught as they stacked books on the reserved shelf. up mto expanded modes for maturity in the One, a tall, young black man was Faith and in the Order. The young priest explaining to a much shorter, older ~oman has grown grey in service for us but his that although something might be "allowed zeal for our Dominican role in addressing

14 The Miraculous Image of the Madonna of San Sisto

When Saint Dominic was charged by Pope Honorius III to establish a reformed community of nuns at San Sisto in Rome, one of the communities from which nuns were voluntarily drawn was the monastery at Santa Maria in Tempulo. St. Dominic lavished his attention upon the nuns of Santa Maria, preaching to them and giving them spiritual direction. It was to each of these same women in 1219 that St. Dominic brought wooden spoons which he had carried on a journey from Spain. At that same time, he received the promise of the nuns that they would enter the new community of San Sisto. However, the mere possibility of the nuns moving from their monastery into a stricter community caused their relatives and friends to protest vociferously. After further entreaties from St. Dominic, most of the nuns agreed to join the new community of San Sisto.

The nuns placed one caveat on their promise: that the miraculous image of the Madonna in Santa Maria in Tempulo should also come with them. This was no ordinary request. Legend had it that in the tenth century Pope Sergius III had tried to move the painting into the Lateran, but it had returned miraculously to its original home. God efore the masterful frescoes of Beato seemingly wanted the painting to remain in Fra Angelico graced the cloister of San Santa Maria in Tempulo. B Marco, the Order of Preachers possessed an artistic work of great character and heritage in the miraculous image of the St. Dominic was not daunted by the Madonna of San Sisto in Rome. challenge. On the First Sunday of Lent, February 28, 1221, Our Holy Father gave the habit and received in his hands the profession of the nuns entering San Sisto. During the This icon of Our Lady was thought following night, St. Dominic carried the during the Middle Ages to have been miraculous image of the Madonna to its new designed by Saint Luke the Evangelist and to home at San Sisto. The painting did not fly have been painted by angels. Legend held back on its own accord, thus bestowing the that a holy man from the East brought it to divine seal of approval to St. Dominic's Rome. There it was acquired by three foundation. brothers who were exiles from Constantinople, presumably because their adherence to orthodox Christianity ran into The miraculous Madonna remained conflict with an outbreak of monophysitism at San Sisto until 1575, when it was or iconoclasm. The image was placed in the transferred to San Domenico and Sisto on the Church of Santa Agata in Tum outside the Quirinal where the nuns had relocated upon Appian Way, which, in honor of the icon, the urging of Pope Saint Pius V. After the became known as, alternatively, Santa Maria monastery became the home of the in Turri and Santa Maria in Tempulo. Angelicum, the image was under the care of Confirming parts of this medieval legend, the friars for a time. In 1931, however, the modem historical study has indicated that image was placed in Santa Maria del Rosario this Madonna is of Byzantine origin and was e della Febbre a Monte Mario where the nuns venerated at least by the end of the fifth had moved into a new monastery. The image century. was restored by Dr. Carlo Bertelli in the 1950s.

15 Dominican Saints painted by Sr. Mary of the Compassion

Torch-lites Newsletter of the Dominican Laity 6026 West Harwood Avenue Orlando, Florida, 32835