"We tend to love saints—provided they are safely dead."  --  Thus begins an article by Mr. William Doino, Jr in "First Things."  Noting that Saints inspire awe and can be intimidating. our culture seems to have tried very hard to domesticate and transform various saints to suit our modern purposes, often contrary to what the saint stood for in his/her own day.  Using Fr. Augustine Thompson's recent best seller, "Francis of Assisi, a New Biography" Doino makes a strong argument for revisiting the lives of many saint to discover anew who they really were.  A very good read.

Our data base of homilies has had two new entries recently: Where Christ Has Gone, by Fr. Bryan Kromholtz, OP and If You Want to be A Friend, by Fr. Michael Fones, OP

Fr. Timothy Conlan again shares with us his experiences in Rabinal.  His construction project seems to have brought joy, yet there are always deep concerns with the violence that permeates the culture.  Read his letter in PDF format.

Fr. Bernhard Blankenhorn, OP of the Western Dominican province has recently published two articles.

The first essay is "The Place of Romans 6 in Aquinas's Doctrine of Sacramental Causality: A Balance of History and Metaphysics." In Ressourcement Thomism, edited by Reinhard Hütter and Matthew Levering, The Catholic University of America Press, 2010.

"The essays in this volume explore three areas in which St. Thomas Aquinas's voice has never fallen silent: sacred doctrine, the relationship of sacraments and metaphysics, and the central role of virtue in moral theology."

The second essay is entitled "Aquinas on Paul's Flesh/Spirit Anthropology in Romans" in Reading Romans with St. Thomas Aquinas, edited by Matthew Levering and Michael Dauphinais, The Catholic University of America Press, 2012.

"St. Thomas Aquinas produced his commentary on Romans near the end of his life while working on the Summa theologiae and commenting on Aristotle. The doctrinal richness of Paul's letter to the Romans was well known to the church fathers, including Origen and Augustine, on whom Aquinas drew for his commentary. With this rich collection of essays by leading scholars, both Catholic and Protestant, Aquinas's commentary will become a major resource for ecumenical biblical and theological discussion."

UPDATE Dominican Life | USA May 16, 2012
Visit www.domlife.org to read the following stories:

Friars of the Order of Order of Preachers

Dominican Cooperator Brothers Study

“Dedicating Ourselves to God, Following Christ to Lead an
Evangelical Life in the Order" (LCO 189, I)

DOMINICAN COOPERATOR BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES
GATHER FOR AN HISTORIC MEETING
(5/8/2012: for immediate release)

Is the Order of Preachers dying? Such a question would seem absurd to some, alarming to others, but the “vocation crisis” of men interested in the consecrated life as Brothers in the Church today is very real. The decline has been especially felt in the Order by the Dominican Brothers, who, as one brother described, have seen a 57% decline in numbers since the 1980s, as compared to a 20% decline in the number of Dominican priests (cf. Curia Generalizia Frati Domenicani).

fr. Gian Mateo studied with our students at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology and live with them at St. Albert Priory.  We are happy to announce his ordination to the priesthood!

From the Province of St. Joseph:

On May 13, 2012, Rome hosted the second annual National March for Life in the city of Rome.  Thousands turned out to show their support of the cause of life.  Despite being a Catholic nation, abortion has been legal in Italy since 1978.  Some of those attending were Dominicans from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas — the Angelicum. [more]

Simple Profession of
Sr. Mary Isabel of the Angels

Pentecost for the Ordinary Christian

Play at "theWord"

Vatican City, 10 May 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience he extended the liturgical cult of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1089-1179) to the universal Church, inscribing her in the catalogue of saints. He also authorised the promulgation of decrees concerning the following causes:

MARTYRDOM

- Servants of God Raimundo Castano Gonzalez and Jose Maria Gonzalez Solis, professed priests of the Order of Friars Preachers, killed in hatred of the faith at Bilbao, Spain in 1936.

RAIMUNDO JOAQUÍN CASTAÑO GONZÁLEZ
professed priest, Dominican
born: 20 August 1865 in Mieres, Asturias (Spain)

JOSÉ MARÍA GONZÁLEZ SOLÍS
professed priest, Dominican
born: 15 January 1877 in Santibáñez de Murias, Asturias (Spain)
died: 03 October 1936 in Bilbao, Vizcaya (Spain)

Saint Antoninus was born at Florence in A.D. 1390. His father, Nicholas Pierozzi, followed the legal profession and filled several important offices in the city. The child received at the font the name of Anthony, but his smallness of stature and extreme gentleness of disposition caused him to be always known by the graceful Italian diminutive of Antonino (little Anthony). His childhood was one of remarkable holiness and almost continual prayer.

He assiduously attended the sermons of the celebrated Friar Preacher, Blessed John Dominici. This holy man was supervising the erection of a new Convent at Fiesole, in the neighborhood of Florence, and Antoninus implored admission into the Community. Alarmed at the extreme delicacy of his appearance, Blessed John was afraid to agree to his desires and sought some plausible excuse for a refusal. He told him, therefore, that it was necessary first for him to make further progress in his studies, but promised to admit him when he should have learned by heart the Book of Decretals. This seemingly impossible condition in no way damped the ardent spirit of the young postulant.

Within a year Antoninus had accomplished the task, and, coming to Blessed John, claimed the fulfillment of Blessed John's promise. It was not refused ; and on the Feast of St. Dominic, A.D. 1504., the holy youth was clothed in the habit of the Friars Preachers. He was sent to Cortona to make his novitiate under Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta, and had there as his companions Blessed Peter Capucci and Fra Angelico of Fiesole. In such an atmosphere of sanctity, Antoninus made rapid progress in perfection.

During the greater part of his life the Saint filled the office of Prior in one or other of the most important Convents of the Order, and was himself the founder of the celebrated Convent of Saint Mark at Florence. He was an indefatigable student and wrote a Summa of Moral Theology, works on Canon Law, treatises for Confessors and Parish Priests, and a Chronicle of the History of the World. Saint Antoninus possessed in an eminent degree the gift of counsel ; cases of conscience and questions on Canon Law were continually submitted to him for solution, and such was his power of restoring peace to troubled souls, that he was popularly called " the Angel of Counsels."  He assisted in the capacity of theologian at the General Council of Florence, A.D. 1439, where he had the consolation of witnessing the reunion of the Greek and Latin Churches. He organized a vast system of charity, which is still in existence in our own day, for the relief of the bashful poor of Florence, and greatly contributed to the development of Confraternities of Christian Doctrine for the instruction of the young.

In the year 1446 he was raised to the archiepiscopal throne of Florence, a dignity which he only accepted when compelled to do so under penalty of excommunication. As Archbishop he made no change in the poverty and simplicity of his life. His entire household consisted of six persons  His purse and his time were equally the property of his flock. In his government he united a singular sweetness and gentleness with the firmness and intrepidity which were called for by the abuses of the times. It was remarked how, amidst the multiplicity of cares which his extensive and vigorous administration entailed upon him, his countenance never lost its expression of calm serenity. Pre-eminently a man of prayer, never did he suffer the turmoil of business to disturb the inner sanctuary of his soul When Florence was desolated by the plague and subsequently by famine and terrible earthquakes, Saint Antoninus showed himself indeed the father of his people. Night and day he might be seen traversing the city, followed by a few devoted friends and by an ass laden with provisions and remedies.

His miracles were very numerous and bear a striking testimony to the simple and unostentatious life of the great prelate, much of whose time was spent amongst the poorest of his flock. The first miracle recorded of him is typical of the affectionate simplicity of his character. To comfort a little girl who was weeping bitterly over a broken pitcher, he collected the shattered fragments, made the sign of the cross over them, and restored the vessel to her whole and uninjured.  At one time we find him mending the mill of a poor man, ruined by a flood ; at another, his blessing melts the iron which has hardened in the furnace of some obstinate sinners, whose hearts melt also into repentance at the forbearance of the Archbishop.

Saint Antoninus is commonly represented in Christian art holding in his hand a pair of scales. This is in allusion to the following miraculous circumstance. An inhabitant of Florence once brought him as a New Year's gift a beautiful basket of fruit, in the secret hope of receiving a rich reward. When, instead of the expected donation, the Saint dismissed him with merely the words, " May God reward you," he went off in a very discontented frame of mind. On learning this, the Archbishop summoned him once more into his presence, and, calling for scales, placed the basket of fruit in one side of the balance and the written words " May God reward you !" in the other. The slip of paper was found to far outweigh the fruits, and the donor retired covered with confusion.

Pope Nicholas V., who canonized Saint Bernardine of Siena, remarked that Antoninus living deserved canonization as much as Bernardine dead ; and the same Pope forbade any appeals or complaints to be received in Rome against sentences passed by the saintly Archbishop of Florence.

The deathbed of Saint Antoninus was a holy and happy scene. "To serve God is to reign," were the words ever on his lips, together with that salutation of the glorious Virgin which had ever been among his favorite ejaculations : " O Holy and Immaculate Virginity, with what praises to extol thee I know not." He expired on May 2, A.D. 1459, surrounded by the Friars of the Convent of Saint Mark, in whose midst he desired to be interred. A very remarkable testimony of honor was paid to him by the reigning Pontiff, Pius II., who commanded that his funeral should be celebrated with extraordinary splendor, and granted an indulgence to all who should kiss the hands or feet of the deceased Archbishop during the eight days that the body remained exposed before burial. The Bull of Saint Antoninus's canonization was drawn up by Pope Adrian IV., A.D. 1523, but not published until the reign of his successor, Pope Clement VII.

Prayer

May we be assisted, O Lord, by the merits of Your blessed Confessor and Bishop, Saint Antoninus, that, as we confess You wonderful in him, so we may glory in that You are merciful to us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Woodeene Koenig-Bricker wrote a very flattering article for Our Sunday Visitor concerning Fr. Augustine Thompson's new book "Francis".  See the article here

Today we celebrate the feast of the Patronage of Mary over the whole Dominican Order.  This feast celebrates Mary more as Mother than of benefactor.  As the Gospel relates, Jesus said to the Apostle John, “Behold your Mother.”  The motherhood of Mary for the whole Church is established in these few words by Jesus.

The special relationship with the order can be traced back to an early tale of St. Dominic.  Deep in prayer, our Holy Father Dominic saw three women, the central woman of great dignity and beauty.  She was carrying an aspergillum and blessing rows of Dominicans kneeling in rows along her path.  This vision disappeared and another one was granted.  Dominic saw our Lord and the Blessed Virgin sitting on thrones in heaven.  The sight was gloriously wonderful and Dominic hesitated to approach, but both Our Lady and Jesus insisted.  In the vision Jesus showed all the religious who were in heaven, yet Dominic did not see a single one of his own order and he began to weep.  Asked why he was weeping, Dominic replied that although he saw many members of religious orders in heaven, he did not see any of the Order of Preachers.  Our Lady instructed Dominic to come closer and as he did Our Lady opened her mantle and under her arms and stretching out to a great distance were tens of thousands of Dominicans.

Ever since then, the already strong devotion to our Lady was strengthened by an act of consecration.  Each year on this festival of her patronage Dominicans join in renewing their devotion to this most clement, most loving and most gracious woman of faith, the Mother of our Savior and our Mother too.

In a pluralistic society, often at odds with any notion of absolutes in matters of faith and morals, it seems reasonable to encourage a faithful adherance to the teachings of the Church in our own educational institutions.  That can sometimes be difficult to obtain, especially in institutions heavily dependent on government aid, or where the authority of the Church has been compromised by secular inroads.  In his recent talk to American bishops on their "ad limina" visit, Pope Benedict reaffirmed the need for attention in this area.  The following article from the Vatican Information Service contains the core of his comments.

The Angel of Judgment

With zeal and grace, St. Vincent Ferrer brought many to conversion of mind and heart during his 58 years as a Dominican friar.  Read some of that life by clicking on the title of this post.

2012 Alemany Award Celebration

Saturday, June 9th
5:30 pm Mass,
followed by reception and dinner
St. Mary's Cathedral
1111 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Downloadable flier

UPDATE Dominican Life | USA May 2, 2012
Visit www.domlife.org to read the following stories:

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY

Vatican City, 30 April 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society".

His mission intention is: "That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus".

St. Catherine of Siena was overshadowed by the Fourth Sunday of Easter this year.  She is a most wonderful saint, dedicated in her love of Christ and his Church.  The following article deals with that love and the real need for a continued effort to bring all into one in Christ, especially those who have wandered, or been driven, away.

Please also keep the unity of Christians in your prayers.

Each month the Prior of St. Albert prepares a letter to all who support and visit the Priory.  The letter for April 2012 can be found here.

Michael Dodds, O.P. In September, 2011, Fr. Michael Dodds, O.P., lectured in Krakow and Kiev, Ukraine. In Krakow, he spoke on "Science, Language, and the God of Life" for the opening of the academic year at the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology, and then gave a two-week course on "Thomas Aquinas and Contemporary Science." In Kiev, he lectured on "Minds, Brains, and Human Wholeness" at the Superior Institute of Religious Sciences of St. Thomas Aquinas, and then gave an abbreviated version of the course offered in Krakow. The courses and lectures included material from his forthcoming book, Unlocking Divine Action: Contemporary Science and Thomas Aquinas, which will be published by The Catholic University of America Press in October 2012.

Contact: Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology

Antoninus Wall, O.P. Fr. Tony's principal activity over the past year has been to proclaim the good news by way of parish missions, retreats, days of recollection, limited writing on spiritual themes, and a month- long daily presence at a huge shopping mall in Portland, Oregon,  available to anyone seeking information about the Christian faith and God's role in their lives. These activities have taken place in California, Alaska, Virginia, and Arizona, and included a two week teaching exercise with Mother Teresa's sisters in Calcutta, India.

Contact: St. Albert Priory, Oakland, CA

The Holy Father Spoke:

"We are afraid to listen to the voice of the Lord because we believe it can detract from our freedom. The truth is that each of us is the fruit of love; the love of our parents, of course, but also and more profoundly the love of God. ... When we become aware of this our lives change; they become a response to that love which is greater than any other, and thus our freedom is fully realised".

See the Slideshow