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The Four Pillars of Dominican Life

Prayer

At the heart of Dominican Life is our relationship with God. We are called "to share the fruits of our contemplation", private prayer has traditionally found its counterpart in common prayer, especially the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist. From our prayer all life and ministry flow.

Dominican spirituality recognizes that each person has a unique relationship with God. shaped by our own personality and giftedness. Meditation and contemplation will take different forms for each person.

Study

Dominic said, "Always study!" Dominicans believe that God's revelation takes place in all of life. To study is to find God. Dominic always allowed his followers the principle of dispensation so that the practices of the Order would never get in the way of study for the preaching. From the beginning of the Order common study was fostered especially of the Word of God.

Common Life

We do not learn to walk alone, we do not learn to pray alone, we cannot fully know the mystery of God in isolation. We need each other. The Common Life challenges us with interdependence and diversity. The common life opens us up to others and calls us to grapple with differences. Dominican life is not about uniformity but a celebration of unity in diversity. It raises the question -- what is the common good?

In our living the vowed life in obedience to God's call, voluntary poverty, and consecrated celibacy we are opened to new ways of oving. Associate and lay members open us further in their sharing of the charism.

Mission

Prayer, study, and the common life give us the confidence and direction necessary to be sent forth in mission. No one is given the gift of God's presence for themselves alone. Dominicans are impelled to the mission of the holy preaching in many forms: teaching, nursing, administration, retreat work, pastoral ministry, social work, parish outreach, advocacy, as well as pulpit preaching. The preaching is most profoundly who we are as persons and who we become.

The above are from brochures written for the Dominican Family by

Sister Barbara Schwarz, OP

Veritas - Truth

is the motto of the Dominican Order. In the General Chapter of Caleruega, Chrys McVey commented, 'Dominic was moved to tears and to action by the starving in Palencia, the innkeeper in Toulouse, by the plight of some women in Fanjeaux. But that is not enough to explain his tears. They flowed from the discipline of an open-eyed spirituality that did not miss a thing. Truth is the motto of the Order - not its defense (as is often understood), rather its perception. Keeping one's eyes open so as not to miss a thing can make the eyes smart.'

-as quoted by Timothy Radcliffe, OP in Sing a New Song.

Disputatio or honest discussion listening for the spark of truth in even opposing arguments that the fullness of Truth may be revealed. Veritas has lead Dominicans to ministry in the missions, cities, and to visit Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and the UN in a search for the truth on a world stage. It has lead us to look at our lives in terms of the ecosystems of the planet and to discern the use of lands held in common.

Finding the truth is one thing, owning our foibles, doing something about our own errors and sinfulness is another. Proclaiming it and standing for the truth calls for courage and humility. The truth brings us to face hard questions in mutuality and solidarity with the poor and marginalized of the world. It is not always clear or easy. We do not always agree. But in the struggle the Preaching Continues . .