Rome — On February 2, the Master of the Order, fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, formally established the Permanent Multidisciplinary Commission on Safeguarding, implementing a mandate of the General Chapter of Krakow and reaffirming the Order’s commitment to the protection of the vulnerable, accountability, and healing. In his decree, the Master recalls that fidelity to the Dominican vocation as…
ROME — The General Curia of the Order of Preachers announces the publication and availability of the official 2025 Latin edition of the Liber Constitutionum et Ordinationum Fratrum Ordinis Prædicatorum (LCO), the foundational juridical text governing the life, mission, and governance of Dominican friars throughout the world. This new edition, issued by the General Curia in Rome, incorporates all legislative…
Neither masters nor leaders — disciples like Mary, the uncomfortable sister we need Discipleship and Brotherhood In his homily, Br. Olivier de Saint Martin referenced a humorous remark by Br. Krzysztof: “Although I like Mary’s attitude, I would marry Martha.” So perhaps Mary Magdalene could be considered our sister-in-law? And yet—as the preacher reminded us—more important are the words attributed…
“Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.”— Isaiah 43:1 Is Mary Magdalene our sister? According to the humorous opinion of Brother Krzysztof Poplawski, reported by Brother Jaroslav on Sunday: “Although I like Mary’s attitude, I would marry Martha.” Mary Magdalene would then be his sister-in-law. In sed contra, Mary…
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”— Matthew 13:9 The well-known phrase “Silence is the preacher’s father” is an expression that emphasizes the importance of silence for preaching. But silence is not only one more element for the preparation and effectiveness of a preacher, it is a fundamental and permanent attitude of listening to the Word of God, in Sacred Scripture,…
The Gift of Perspective When I caught one of the brothers at the monastery gate and asked him how he was dealing with the heat, which can be truly unbearable here — when the sun heats the walls until nightfall, and the concrete gives off the heat it has absorbed throughout the day, warming up the already scorching city —…
“The Gospel Against Forgetfulness: Saint Bridget and the Memory that Saves”Remember the whole journey that the Lord your God has led you on.”— Deuteronomy 8:2 Feast of St. Bridget of SwedenExodus 16:1-5, 9-15 / Ps 78 / Matthew 13:1-9 There is no hope without remembrance The book of Exodus takes its name from a Greek word that captures the exit or…
“We carry this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”—2 Corinthians 4:7 St James the Apostle: Krakow 2025 ‘Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.’ What a marvellous text for a General Chapter of…
The Power of Stories in Preaching Among the friars, there’s a well-known anecdote – told in many versions – about a time when someone asked a Jesuit, “Is it true you always answer a question with another question?” The Jesuit simply smiled and replied, “Who says that?” A similar story could easily be told about the Dominicans, with the claim…
“Let them both grow together until the harvest.”(Matthew 13:30) Under the sign of patience. If we are to remember Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, we must – if we are to believe the proto-gospel of James – remember two great figures of patience. Patient – perhaps even resigned – weary of waiting for the child who does not come, yet…
