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The OP after our names stands for “Order of Preachers,” the formal name of the religious order founded in 1216 by St. Dominic. As Dominicans, we preach with our lives—in both word and deed—guided by a search for truth (veritas) and a commitment to contemplate and share the fruits of our contemplation (contemplate et aliis tradere).
Our Dominican lives are shaped by the interconnecting movements of study, prayer, communal life, and ministry.
Dominic so firmly believed in the importance of study to the preaching mission that he provided a rule of “dispensation” from other responsibilities in the event they interfered with study. We are women committed to study. Through prayer and contemplation we interiorize our learnings and enter into communion with the Source of all truth. Our communal life orients us to the common good of the whole Earth community. And in ministry, our preaching takes effect.
As women of the Gospel, our preaching is also expressed in word. Read reflections on the Word of God posted by Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates on the Praedicare Blog below.
Thursday, August 8, 2024 Isaiah 52:7-10 2 Timothy 4:1-8 Matthew 28:16-20
Good morning! Happy Feast Day! From my vantage point, this year we are celebrating a Dominican trifecta with Dominic’s Day today, Jamie’s reception on Saturday, and Katherine’s final profession on Sunday. The stakes are high for those of us preaching homilies centered on the Dominican way!
The readings these days are wonderful and today’s offer rich phrases like this one from Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news.” Be mindful of your feet, for they have walked miles and miles working for peace and justice and have entered room after room to confirm for people that ours is a God of love.
Or what about these phrases from Timothy? “Proclaim the message…whether the time is favorable or unfavorable…do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.” This is, and has been, our calling, in good times and bad, to proclaim a message of love through all the various ministries chosen for us or by us. Proclaiming the message in discussions and debatable opportunities enables us to speak our truth in an honorable manner and to hear another’s truth in the same way.
Dominic knew the strength, power and authority of women and their ability to listen and have conversations. According to Fr. Bede Jarrett in The Life of St. Dominic, “it was the home teaching of mothers and grandmothers which was really responsible for the continuance of the [Albigensian] heresy (p. 40).” And Dominic, who frequently had discussions and presentations with women followers of the Catholic faith, imagined a good and proper solution: the women would be the leaders in disclaiming the heresy. And so the convent at Prouille was founded for three purposes: to be apostolic in their mission, to teach, and to be “a refuge from hostile surroundings (p. 48).” To me, Dominic practiced what he prayed as he pondered Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel to go and make disciples.
No matter where or how we continue to minister – from our rooms, in the hallways, at centers of ministry with direct service, on committees, or as volunteers, ours is holy work as messengers in the mountains, on the plains, in the cities and towns, near the water or away from it. We continue to proclaim our message in both favorable and unfavorable times. That was our commitment as followers of Jesus and Dominic.
These next few days are certainly beautiful days. May each of us celebrate with a renewed commitment to live our lives dedicated to truth, dedicated to justice and peace, and dedicated to bringing love and acceptance to each other and to all the beautiful people with whom we share this sacred Earth.
A recording of this liturgy will be available in the Congregation's public video library.
word.op.org - International Dominican Preaching Page
Catholic Women Preach - Featuring deep spirituality and insights from women
Preach With Your Life - Video series by Adrian Dominican Sisters