Our Dominican brothers in Washington, D.C. have recently put up this video on the Dominican vocation. It is taken from a 1964 film entitled And the world looks at us. Some aspects of the Dominican liturgy and some customs of conventual life have changed since then but our life is still essentially the same: dedicated to preaching for the salvation of souls, a preaching nourished and supported by prayer, contemplation, study and fraternity.
For a contemporary account of the call to Dominican life read Br Bruno's story.
Is God calling you too?
I thought that this was an interesting film clip – and for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it was interesting to see a little of the customs of Dominican life as it was lived just before the end of the Second Vatican Council.
ReplyDeleteBut mainly it made me realise again the importance of speaking and hearing in Christian life; it made me remember again the text “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road”.
This was brought to my mind as I thought about how much, overall, I disliked this video. I disliked it - I came to the conclusion - mainly because of the narration. If the film had been silent with, say, subtitles for the text, I don’t think it would have had anything like so strong an effect with me.
I think the voice in the film is not that of the writer of the film’s text. It gives the impression of being that of a professional voice actor of the time. The voice actor seems to have imagined how a 'religious person' ought to sound and has spoken so as to conform to this ‘imagining’ of what a pious, reverential voice should sound like.
My response to that presented voice was something of a ‘my heart was frozen within me while he spoke...’
In contrast, my French is not so good that, without the subtitles, I could understand exactly what the old, blind monk who spoke at the end of ‘Into Great Silence’ was saying. But even without being able to understand all of what he said I think that it was still possible to hear and be affected by the truth of his speaking: ‘preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
- Pete Owen
I agree with Pete Owen. I think he puts his finger on what is wrong with the video. I found it unreal.
ReplyDeleteThe narration was a little creepy- too earnest and goody goody- and made me want to contradict the narrator.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange how holy and pious words bring out the worst in the listener? Or is it strange?