If you are considering a Lay Dominican vocation, you are welcome to come and observe our monthly meeting. We meet every second Saturday morning at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, starting with Mass at 8:30 am and rosary afterward. We then share breakfast and community time, hear talks, and break for group study in nearby classrooms. Websites of Interest: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish: www.stauva.org Lay Dominicans at St. Thomas Aquinas: www.stauva.org/dominican‐laity WHAT TO Province of St. Joseph (Eastern USA) Lay Dominicans: www.laydominicans.org EXPECT IF I United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) www.usccb.org SEEK A LAY The Holy See www.w2.Vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html DOMINICAN VOCATION Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Lay Dominican (1901‐1925). Back Front If I choose to pursue a Lay Dominican vocation, what will be expected of me? This pamphlet will help you This is an important question to ask yourself early UNDERSTAND: in the process of inquiry into Dominican spirituality. We hope to provide you • THE DOMINICAN SPIRITUALITY with some answers to that very important • THE FOUR PILLARS question! The Lay Dominican Fraternity at • THE REQUIREMENT TO PRAY St. Thomas Aquinas prepared this pamphlet • THE REQUIREMENT TO STUDY to help you discern your vocation. • THE REQUIREMENT OF COMMUNITY • THE REQUIREMENT TO PURSUE AN APOSTOLATE • THE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED • THE REQUIREMENTS OF ATTENDANCE AT ALL FORMATION SESSIONS AND A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ONE’S CHAPTER St. Dominic de Guzman (1170‐1221), founder of the Dominican Order, also known as The Order of the Preachers ( 1216). 1 2 UNDERSTANDING DOMINICAN SPIRITUALITY Not all souls grow St. Dominic exhibited a fully sanctified closer to God by human intellect: an intense intellectual taking an intellectual curiosity, exalted by faith; a yearning for route. For example, peace of heart, or repose in God; and the Lay Franciscans grow need for action. These are the three in holiness without a dimensions of Dominican spirituality: the lot of study; they life of the mind in study; the absorption of focus upon detach‐ the mind in God by prayer and ‐ment from worldly contemplation; and the outflow of charity pleasures, so they from the soul into apostolic action. practice voluntary poverty. Lay Carmel‐ The true signs of ‐ites pray constantly for the entire Church. Dominican life are Members of the laity who join Opus Dei, inward ones of active sanctify their work as a prayer to God. study of the Word of God, a thirst for Truth, a One must try to align oneself with a prayerful life, and a spirituality that will help one’s soul grow in joyous giving of oneself faith, hope, and charity, and, ultimately, in an apostolate. reach eternal beatitude (blessed attitude) St. Thomas Aquinas, Dominican Priest., Doctor of the Church (1225‐1274), by Sandro Botticelli. with God. 3 4 UNDERSTANDING THE FOUR PILLARS A Lay Dominican takes the challenge seriously to grow spiritually and share the fruits of his or her interior life. Prayer St. Catherine of Sienna, Lay Dominican, Doctor of the Church (1347‐1380), He or she contemplates Divine Truth (God) Sculpted by Francesco Messina (1961, Castel Sant’Agelo) by daily recitation of the Rosary, praying Apostolate the Divine Office morning and evening, He or she shares the Divine Love (Caritas) frequent Mass attendance, monthly that flows from his or her soul in the form Confession, an annual retreat, spiritual of an apostolate that usually involves reading, and frequent visits to the Blessed performing one or more of the Spiritual or Sacrament. Corporal Works of Mercy. Study Community A Lay Dominican studies the Word and A Lay Dominican shares this same Caritas other spiritual materials both individually in community with fellow Dominicans and with his or her fellow members of the during monthly chapter meetings. Chapter. So the pillars of Dominican spirituality are Prayer, Study, Apostolate, and Community. 5 6 UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO PRAY REQUIREMENT TO STUDY Lay Dominicans pray a lot, publicly and The path from Inquirer to a privately. They keep in communication life‐promised Lay Dominican with God throughout the day. They oblige involves study of 56 modules themselves to pray daily the Divine Office over 5 years. To be received of the Church, Morning and Evening as a candidate, a person prayer. They pray the Rosary daily. completes six modules and a They attend Mass self‐evaluation form within a year’s time. A frequently and enter novice receives and studies the Rule of the into liturgical prayer. Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic and They pray for one completes 14 more modules and a self‐ another, for all examination form within a year’s time and Dominicans (living may then be accepted to make a 3‐year and deceased), for temporary promise. A temporary‐promised their families and candidate completes 36 modules and a friends, for the self‐examination form over a minimum of a marginalized and 3‐year period. If accepted for life‐promised infirm, for the dying status, the person continues to study the and the deceased. Word and Catholic Church documents and St. Hyacinth of Poland, Dominican priest, (1185‐1257). spiritual reading for the remainder of his or “St. Hyacinth Saving the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Enemies of the Christian Name” her life. Painted by Nicolas Colombel (17th Century). 7 8 UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF COMMUNITY REQUIREMENT TO PURSUE AN As a Lay Dominican, there are certain APOSTOLATE obligations to the Chapter and Dominican Lay Dominicans pursue personal and chapter community that one must accept: apostolates to bring Divine Truth (Veritas) • If elected, one must serve the Chapter and Divine Love (Caritas)toothersouls.The as a Council member for 3‐year chapter apostolate is living the rosary by assignments. contemplating its mysteries and bringing the • One must serve on committees or power of this prayer to the needs around us. projects when requested by the Council. Rosaries are made and distributed, they are • One must financially support the prayed with and for many souls. Some souls Chapter with annual dues. are seeking Christ, some suffering with Him, • One must carry out personal and some searching for Him, some learning chapter apostolates. about Him, some offending Him. All souls • One must participate in Chapter prayer are precious to our chapter and to Our requests and communications. Blessed Mother, so we bring souls to Christ through the power of her Rosary. Moving to a new location does not end Left: St. Martin de Porres, Dominican friar one’s vocation as a Lay Dominican; Lay (1579‐1639); Center: St. Rose of Lima, Lay Dominicans locate the nearest chapter to Dominican (1586‐ their new home and request to be 1617); Right: Bl. John Macias, Dominican transferred to that community. friar (1585‐1645). Stained Glass at the Convent of St. Dominic in Lima, Peru. 9 10 UNDERSTANDING THE LENGTH Year 5: Final Promised OF TIME REQUIRED If requested by the candidate and accepted by the Council, a member may make a life‐ The time required before making a life‐ promise to live as a Lay Dominican for the promise to live as a Lay Dominican, from rest of one’s life. He or she continues to live start to finish is approximately 5 years. a life encompassing the four pillars. Year 1: Postulant Newly “Final Promised” As a Postulant, one begins to learn about Lay Dominicans of the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapter the Lay Dominican spirituality and lifestyle. on January 28, 2015. Photo by Trisha Niermeyer Potter (PointsofGrace, Year 2: Novice 2015). As a Novice, one is welcomed into a Lay Dominican chapter and begins to practice the prayer life and apostolate of the Lay Dominicans. UNDERSTANDING THE Years 3‐5: Temporary‐Promised REQUIREMENTS OF ATTENDANCE After about the second year, if accepted by AT ALL FORMATION SESSIONS the Council one makes a temporary A candidate seeking for acceptance into the promise to live according to the Rule of the Dominican family must show zeal for Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic for three progress in his or her spiritual life by faithful years. If the promise is not renewed at the attendance at all meetings and formation end of the period, no obligation to the Lay sessions. When formation sessions are Fraternities of St. Dominic exists, and the missed, candidates must arrange with the candidate may choose to take another path Formation Director to make up the class toward spiritual growth. even when the absence is excused. 11 12 “Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life.” ‐ Saint Dominic de Guzman, Founder of the Dominican Order (1170‐1221) “Start being brave about everything. Drive out darkness and PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! spread light. Don’ look at your weaknesses. Realize instead that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” ‐ Saint Catherine of Siena, Lay Dominican (1347‐1380) Please pray for guidance from God as to whether or not He is calling you to Dominican spirituality. The goal is to save your soul, so, if you pray, He will put you in the right place to accomplish that end. Remain docile to the Holy Spirit, and listen to God. Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, Saints Dominic de Guzman and Catherine of Siena. and a hope of finally embracing you. “Madonna with Rosary”, Sculpted by Franz Tavella Amen.