‘Light of the Church and preacher of grace’ We gather around the table of the Eucharist to celebrate the solemnity of our Father St. Dominic, light of the Church and preacher of grace. We gather in thanksgiving to the Lord for the grace of the General Chapter celebrated and concluded here in Krakow, the place where we find the relics…
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”(Matthew 5:9) Dear brothers and sisters!I come from a country where the war has been going on for many years and there is no end in sight.This war affects many nations, so praying together for peace,when representatives of the Order from all over the world gathered here, – is…
Renewing Faith, Embracing the Cross, Living the Mission“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”Matthew 16:18 This morning’s Gospel begins by introducing us to Jesus in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Matthew tells us that He arrived in Caesarea Philippi. If Matthew were to address us today, gathered in this chapter, he would also tell us…
“Mysteries of joy, sorrow, glory, and light” in our lives […].Hope is Christ in us.— cf. Col 1:27 Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a luminous mystery that invites us to contemplate the glory of Christ, to listen to His voice, and to follow Him faithfully. 1. Contemplate the Glory of Christ in prayer. A…
“The Gospel we proclaim today tells us that Jesus withdrew to a solitary place after receiving the news of the death of John the Baptist. However, the crowd followed him, and he took pity on them. Jesus saw the need of the crowd and decided to act. With the five loaves and two fish, he fed the crowd, demonstrating his…
Building Bonds Among Provinces Sunday. When I asked one of the brothers why general chapters are called every three years, since we elect a general once every nine years, he replied without hesitation that it is primarily about unity. Chapters are for meeting, for building bonds—between brothers, between provinces. No one needs to be reminded that we come from different…
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”— Matthew 14:28 Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and sail against the wind all night long. This is a feeling you provincial know all too well, I imagine. Then he appeared to them walking on the sea. The disciples were not comforted, nor relieved nor…
“No sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”— Matthew 12:39 Dear brothers and sisters: The Word of God, in the Sacred Scriptures just proclaimed today, shows us an experience of Jesus, an encounter with those who represented zeal for the law: the literal interpretation of the Mosaic law—[one] closed to human experience. The Gospel of Matthew that…
“Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”— Luke 10:42 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Today is a special day of the General Chapter – the feast of the Dominican family! We are at the table of the Word of God and the Eucharist together: sisters and brothers. And it would probably be hard to…
Cum qui recipit prophetam (And whoever receives a prophet), MT 10:41. “He who receives a prophet.” These words open the two oldest Dominican documents preserved in this convent’s archives. These are bulls of recommendations, dating from the second decade of the 13th century; issued by Pope Honorius III. In a way, they were passports to legitimize new itinerant preachers. By…
