Homily for All Saints

Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

A Dominican brother in Rome said to me recently: ‘Christ died for our sins, so make it worth his while!’ At first this looks like an encouragement to sin more - as if I needed any encouragement - but in a sense this is what we celebrate in today’s feast. It’s All Saints, and it is the saints that make Christ’s death worth while. And they make Christ’s death worth while because the stuff from which saints are made is not plaster but flesh-and-blood sinners. For it is from this kind of clay - sinful humanity - that God transforms us by his grace, and shapes us into a thing of beauty. We become a precious vessel that he marks with his seal, and fills with his Spirit, and indeed, fills with his own Body and Blood. But for this to be the case, the clay must know its nature, and be malleable, yet able to withstand the heat of the kiln.

Today’s feast follows on nicely from last Sunday’s readings: for the difference between the publican and the Pharisee is not that one is a sinner, and the other is not. No. Both were sinners, but the publican knew he was clay… He acknowledged his sinfulness, and recognized his distance from God’s holiness, and he longed for God’s mercy, to see God’s face. Such a person, we might say, is “poor in spirit”. And this is the beginning of wisdom, and of blessed-ness, it sets one on the path to sainthood. As a priest said to me once in confession: the path to holiness begins with this first step - the admission of our sins, and of our need for God’s transforming grace. And we see this desire expressed by the saints in our first reading. They cry out: “Salvation belongs to our God”! And those who become saints constantly beg for God’s salvation, they long to see his face, and hope that one day they shall see him as he really is.

The one who is poor in spirit is, in many ways, like a child, and this is another image offered by today’s readings. For we are God’s children, and, I suspect, like all children we make mistakes, and are still learning. We are learning to live well, and to be truly human as Jesus is. We are learning to walk… in Christ’s Way, to speak… the Word planted in our hearts, to feed… on the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. In a sense it is in the nature of a child to be stumbling, learning, and growing, and so when we say that God loves us as his children, we also say, I think, that God loves sinners. And he loves sinners because only the one who knows he is a sinner, who is failing, stumbling, struggling, knows he needs God, and needs his salvation. Such a person relies on God’s mercy and love shown on the Cross. So, as we heard in the first reading: “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” because it is Christ’s death and resurrection that wins us salvation; his blood, which we receive in this Eucharist, that is poured out for us, and frees us from the “great tribulation” of sin and death.

So, in a sense, we should rejoice that we are sinners! For don’t we hear every Easter night: “O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam that won for us so great a Redeemer!” Now, some theologians argue that Christ came to perfect creation, to be its crown and completion, and that he would have become Man even if Adam had never sinned. Yes, of course, Jesus Christ is the perfection of creation, but as St Thomas Aquinas saw so clearly, Christ became Man for our salvation. And for that to be the case, he needs sinners to make it worth his while! But he not only needs sinners, but he needs sinners who know their need of salvation, not sinners who think they’re saints. After all, Christ is no more a Saviour than when we are sinners!

For Christ became Man, and united himself with sinful humanity, so that we might become God. And he does this by the gift of His grace which makes us beautiful as Christ is, so that the Trinity would dwell within us as in a temple. This is the scandal of Christianity: the wonderful intimacy of God. This is the Good News that we profess. And this, essentially, is what we celebrate today: the triumph of God’s grace in the lives of men and women, who were sinners like us… fellow Christians who were also struggling, trying to navigate the difficulties of life, and seeking happiness.

St Augustine said that God is glorified in his saints, and that when he crowns their merits and rewards them, then God is crowning the gift of grace which he has put in their hearts. This gift is none other than the Holy Spirit, the living presence of God in our lives. And the Spirit is the Counsellor, the One promised by Christ and given to us to lead us on the way of Truth. Every child, as we have seen, needs a teacher. But as we know, a child who doesn’t want to learn or heed the warning of his parent, cannot be forced to learn. Which is why God doesn’t command or oblige us, but he invites us with his promises of happiness - the Beatitudes of today’s Gospel.

Sometimes the Beatitudes seem like ideals which are just too hard, or we may think we know better. But today’s feast calls to mind men and women - some who are known to us perhaps - who really embody these ideals, and who are taught by the Spirit to learn from the Wisdom of Christ. This great multitude of Christians are strengthened each day to seek the face of Christ; strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Some do so despite persecution, and great tribulation. Many of our brothers and sisters in various parts of the world are still being killed and unjustly treated for their faith. And the witness of these saints gives us hope, and courage. But there are also the little sacrifices offered each day for Christ; for truth, goodness, and love. Think, for example, of how often you might have had to be a peacemaker, or be merciful at home, or at work. Truly, so many instances of goodness are found in the daily life of the family, the “domestic Church”; it really is an inspiration for me to observe parents with their children, and to see their love, generosity, and patience… And all of this is possible because of God’s grace, because of an openness to the Holy Spirit.

The path to holiness begins with an acknowledgement that we are sinners, and a longing for God’s mercy and salvation. But the path winds through our kitchens and gardens, across our cars and schools, by our offices and homes, and into our hearts. For it is ordinarily in these places that we hunger and thirst for righteousness… that we can seek God with a pure and undivided heart. And God’s response is always to fill us with his blessing, giving us a share in the very life of the Blessed One, so that - if we persevere in friendship with God - we might ourselves become Blessed, and join the company of his saints.

Godzdogz in November

During the month of November we will have two regular features. As it is the month in which there is an emphasis on remembering the dead, we will have four obituaries of friars of the English province, remembering men who died 10, 20, 30 and 40 years ago.

We will also have a series on the O Lumen, one of the antiphons to St Dominic. This one was normally sung at the end of Compline and we will be offering a meditation on each phrase of it.

Watch out also for regular features such as 'Saints this Month' and 'Vocation Stories', as well as 'Fruits of Study', the latter a new series in which the student brothers will share something of what they are discovering through their tutorial work and lecture courses.

And there will undoubtedly be other, quirkier, posts along the way, about food, animals, pop music, films, etc., etc., etc.

10th Anniversary of the Dominican Volunteers International (DVI)

It is probably one of the Order's least known entities: Dominican Volunteers International (DVI), the lay missionary project of the Dominican Family. The aim of DVI is to "link persons and communities from different parts of the world in order to collaborate in the preaching mission" of the Order. Each mission involves four persons: the volunteer, DVI (which is co-ordinated from Rome), a Dominican community that forms and sends the volunteers, and a corresponding community that welcomes and receives the volunteer on mission. The project is part of the Order's wider justice and peace work, as it works primarily with the poor and marginalised.

Since it began in 2000 under the auspices of fr. Timothy Radcliffe OP, who was then Master of the Order, four men from England have gone on mission under DVI. These four have all become friars in the English Province, although only three are still in the Order. They are fr Lawrence Lew, fr Nicholas Crowe, and fr Matthew, one of our novices.

In 2004 I was sent as a Dominican Volunteer to the Dominican parish of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Dagat-dagatan, Manila in the Philippines. It is often a cliché to say that an experience changed one's life, but I can honestly say that my year with DVI changed my life. By stepping out of my comfort zone, and living in the slums of Manila, my eyes were opened to the ravages of poverty. But at the same time, I also saw how grace abounded in these circumstances. The dignity of the poor with whom I worked shone out in their cheerfulness, their generosity of spirit, and their openness to God and neighbour. From the abundance of their faith, hope, and love, I experienced for the first time the truth in Christ's teaching: "blessed are the poor".

As the first Dominican Volunteer to join the Order of Friars Preachers, and to be ordained, I was honoured with an invitation to DVI's 10th anniversary celebrations in Santa Sabina, Rome. This took place from 20-25 October, and there were five other former volunteers, as well as representatives from a 'sending community', and a 'receiving community'. We came from the Philippines, Peru, Portugal, the Congo, and Columbia. Also present were the out-going Co-Directors of DVI, Sr Rose Ann Schlitt OP, and fr Ed Ruane OP. The new Director, Sr Lucia Fernandez Riega OP, and the new friar assistant, fr. Carlos Linera Rodriguez OP, also took part. In addition, members of the General Curia at Santa Sabina, joined us in prayer, gave us talks, listened to our feedback and reflections, and even cooked for us. Coming from the USA, India, Germany, and Spain, they added to the international flavour of the week.

The six days were full of highlights: Mass in St Dominic's cell, a celebratory dinner with the new Master, fr Bruno Cadoré, Mass in St Peter's Basilica celebrated by the Pope. However, what I appreciated was the time together reflecting on our DVI experiences, sharing these with Dominican friars, sisters and laity who had come from across Rome to hear about our work, and planning together for the future of DVI.

Although we had all worked in different contexts, and everyone else seemed to speak Spanish (of which I have a basic grasp), there were certain common elements that united us. Not just the Dominican charism, but the experience of having been young Catholics who had gone to the frontiers of mission, and found Christ among those whom we served, and so, grown as disciples.

In conclusion, I would share just one thought I had while on mission: that before I can be a preacher, I have to be like Christ, the incarnate Word who, as a baby, first became silent and wordless. And in that silence, Christ just lived among us, and learnt to be human. So too with us. And from that silence and being will come forth the words that he will give us ... But they have to be words for which we have suffered, and come from that which we have experienced. And this, I hope, is something I learnt with DVI that I shall not forget.

If you would like to be part of the DVI project, or want to find out more about it, contact dvi@curia.op.org and visit the website. Below are more photos from the DVI 10th Anniversary celebrations in Rome:

English Dominicans in Santa Sabina, Rome

fr. Lawrence Lew was in Rome recently for the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the Dominican Volunteers International program, which was inaugurated by fr. Timothy Radcliffe in 2000. There will be a report about this on Godzdogz in a few days time. The DVI meeting took place in Santa Sabina, which includes the 5th-century basilica given to St Dominic in 1219. The priory, which has a 13th-century cloister and a wing built by Pope St Pius V, is home to the Master of the Order and his Curia. Many great saints of the Order, including St Dominic, St Albert the Great, St Thomas Aquinas, and St Hyacinth have lived at Santa Sabina. At the moment, four brothers of the English Province live and work there. It is unprecedented for so many English Dominicans to be living concurrently in this historic priory of the Order.

From the Province of England, there have been:

Philip Thomas Cardinal Howard who lived here as a Cardinal and was a member of the community, only using his palace (which is now part of the Venerable English College) for official business in the city.

And more recently:

Conrad Pepler, liturgist at the 'School for Novice Masters';

Aylwin Tyndal-Atkinson, former Provincial and socius to fr. Emmanuel Suarez;

David Lawson, a lay brother who came to assist fr. Aylwin, and later lived at Santa Maria Maggiore where he (David) died;

Drostan McLaren, who was assistant to the Order's Syndic (bursar) in the 1950s;

Hilary Carpenter, former Provincial, socius to fr. Michael Browne and then to fr. Aniceto Fernandez;

Godfrey Anstruther, who was a member of the Dominican Historical Institute;

John Orme Mills, assistant to the Master on the means of social communication;

Timothy Radcliffe, former Provinicial, and 85th Master of the Order of Preachers;

Benjamin Earl, student in canon law;

And currently (all in the photo below along with fr. Lawrence, l. to r.):

Bruno Clifton, student in Sacred Scripture;

Robert Ombres, Procurator General;

Mark Edney, President of the International Dominican Foundation;

Allan White, former Provincial, and socius to fr. Carlos Azpiroz Costa and now to fr. Bruno Cadoré.

Testerian Catechism

Tradition attributes St. Francis of Assisi with the powerful quote: "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary!" This statement is very Franciscan in its spirit and has certainly been lived by the members of the Franciscan orders. One Brother, Jacobo de Testera, certainly provided a very literal example of this adage. He was one of the first missionaries in Mexico, well before the languages of the indigenous peoples had been learned. Jacobo pioneered a technique that used pictorial stories to describe basic teachings and spread the Gospel. These catechisms were therefore called Testerians. One of these Testerian Catechisms, from 1524, has been added to the World Digital Library; an internet project to make significant primary materials from across the world available to as many people as possible.

The full text is available here

H/T to The Lion & The Cardinal

Frying for Friars: Coconut Fish Curry for a Friday

Goa, on the west coast of India, has a large Christian community and culture. Much of this is due to nearly 500 years of Portuguese rule but tradition holds that St. Bartholomew brought the faith to Konkan, just as his fellow Apostle, St. Thomas did to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There are just under 400,000 Goan Catholics in the state of Goa itself and about 100,000 throughout India. There are also just over a million Goan Catholics throughout the world. There are large populations in Portugal, Canada, and in Swindon and London. Goan Catholics have a rich and vibrant culture. Kokani literature, and music have been a great influence on 'Bollywood' but most Europeans would probably come into contact with the traditional cuisine of this people. As an undergraduate in Leicester I first came into contact with Goan Catholic cuisine at the amazing Anjuna Restaurant. I quickly became a frequent visitor. Their curries contain lots of coconut and fish is a speciality, as might be expected. There is also a Portuguese influence, especially seen in Dukra Roast Maas and Sorpotel, two splendid pork dishes. The Vindaloo is also of Goan Catholic origin but to find a good one on the British high street is becoming all too much of a rarity.

It is usual in Oxford for members of the community to cook at the weekend, but nevertheless the brothers are sometimes called upon to don their aprons during the week. If I have to cook on a Friday my first port of call is a Goan-inspired fish curry. It is a quick, effort-light tasty meal that is easy to make for twenty-plus people (all the measurements given below serve 4 people).

For the Curry:

1 lb skinless pollock 2 chopped onions

3 chopped green chillies

& 1 can of chopped tomatoes 300ml coconut milk

1tsp of

turmeric, chilli powder, cumin seeds,

& a pinch of garam masala

For the Rice:

4 cardamom pods,

8 cloves,

2 cinnamon sticks,

pinch saffron threads,

2 bay leaves

(I had to use ground cinnamon

1lb Basmati Rice but sticks are better)

You will also need some fresh coriander, butter, olive oil, 1 pint of vegetable stock and salt

Cooking

1) Wash the rice in several changes of cold water,

then leave to soak for about 30 minutes

in fresh cold water. This will ensure you have nice fluffy rice

2) Chop the fish into nice large chunks

3) Have a cup of tea (or say the Divine Office) whilst waiting for the rice to fluff up. Then sieve the rice and put to the side. Then, in a pot, cook half the onions in a generous knob of butter. When the onion softens add the spices, saffron and bay leaves and cook for a couple more minutes. The spices will give a wonderful fragrant flavour to the rice. Add the rice and stir until the grains are coated in the butter before stirring in the stock and throw in some salt.

4) Bring to the boil and cover the pan with aluminium foil before putting the lid on. Turn the heat down low and leave to cook for 10 minutes before turning off the heat. Don't remove the lid; just leave the rice to continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes.

5)Whilst the rice is still cooking, heat the oil in a large pan and add the cumin seeds. When they start sizzling pop in half of the onions and fry until they start to turn golden.

6) Lower the heat and add the tomatoes and green chilli, and leave them for a couple of minutes. Then add ground turmeric and chilli powder. Stir, then season , then stir some more.

7)When the oil separates throw in the garam masala and stir in the coconut milk. Heat for a couple of minutes and then stir in the fish, making sure it is covered in the sauce. .

8) Cover the pan and cook on a low heat for 15-20 minutes. You can cook for longer but the fish will start to break up. This will not affect the taste but gives the dish a more mushy texture. Serve with the rice and any other subcontinental side dishes you desire. I am a bit partial to naan bread so got some pre-made ones to save time and effort. When ready to serve blitz the coriander and sprinkle over the curry.

I Will Sing a New Song...

During a late night essay writing session I was burning away the midnight oil with Radio 2 as a faithful companion. I was humming along to Turn! Turn! Turn by The Byrds when suddenly I was struck by the fact that the lyrics are adapted entirely from the Book of Ecclesiastes. The popular 1965 version sang by The Byrds was actually a cover. The original version was put to music by Peter Seeger in 1962. He donated 45% of the royalties to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions but the song did not become a hit until it was covered by pre-psychedelic Byrds.

I felt pretty stupid having not acknowledged this before but it got me thinking about other pieces of popular music that consist of large parts of scripture being put to music. What struck me was the number of psalms that had been set to music. The most obvious was "Rivers of Babylon", based on Psalm 137. Of course this psalm is much prized by Rastafarians and was originally recorded by The Melodians in 1970. Whilst this version was popular amongst reggae enthusiasts, the song would not enter the hit parade until Boney M covered it eight years later. It would also be their only substantial entry into the US charts.

The final track on U2's 1983 album War was a modification of psalm 40. "40 (How Long)", was only released in Germany as a single but has proved to be one of the Dublin band's popular live set-pieces.

Of course scripture has been and still is set to contemporary music. What is unusual is that certain types of scripture seem to be able to crossover. One of the reasons the Wisdom Literature is so attractive to musicians is that it expresses human nature and psychology so honestly. The questions and emotions presented in the psalms are still posed by people today. The problem is that people do not look at the answers contained in these works. Despite the anguish and despair they always point to hope and security in the Lord.

Restored Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Dominican and parish communities of Rosary Priory in Grenada were filled with joy as they celebrated the opening of their restored Church. The formal re-dedication of the Church will take place later but the hope of celebrating Mass there for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary this year was realised. Below are some photographs of the condition of the church after Hurricane Ivan had passed through Grenada in 2004 and some photographs of the restored church today. Thank you to all who have contributed to the restoration of this church. Your continuing support for the work of the English Dominicans and their Brothers in Grenada and Barbados is very much appreciated.

The main entrance today .... and how it was after the hurricane.

The main entrance seen from inside ... and how it is now seen from the new sanctuary.

The sanctuary was at the far end of the church but that far end is now a space for choirs.

And the new sanctuary is along what was a side wall in the former church.

Godzdogz Team 2010-11

The Godzdogz team for the current academic year (l. to r.) Brothers Lawrence Lew, Nicholas Crowe, Gregory Pearson, , Robert Verrill, Vivian Boland (Master of Students), Graham Hunt, Mark Davoren, Haavar Simon Nilsen (from the vicariate of Dacia [Scandinavia]) and Andrew Brookes.

We are looking forward to keeping you informed and perhaps even inspired over the course of the next few months. Please pray for us as we will pray for you.

From The Ashes...

In March 2005, St. Raphael's Cathedral in Madison, Wisconsin burnt down in an arson attack. On arrival Bishop Morlino tried to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament but it was too dangerous and he was not allowed to enter the wreckage. He found some Catholic fire-fighters and asked them to try and retrieve the Blessed Sacrament. They succeeded and this iconic image was capture by an onlooker. This scene has been reproduced in a a painting in the lobby of the Diocese's chancery.

This image reminds us of the importance of the Real Presence. It is Jesus, present in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, that makes our church buildings holy and sacred. The Bishop was not concerned with trying to save ornaments or precious vestments but with finding the gift of unending love.

H/T to Fr. Z who included this image in a post about the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest.

Saints this Month: 15th October, Teresa of Avila

This is the statue of St Teresa outside the Convent of the Incarnation in Avila. It was in this convent that she and St John of the Cross were together for a few years, she as prioress and he as chaplain. Still today you can see relics of these two great saints in the convent museum, including some of their letters. Here too is a famous 'doodle' by St John, of the crucified Christ viewed from above. It was the inspiration for a painting by Salvador Dali called Christ of St John of the Cross which is now in Glasgow. This is one of Teresa's best-loved sayings:

Nada te turbe,
nada te espante;
todo se pasa,
Dios no se muda.
La pacientia todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene nada la falta:
solo Dios basta.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

The Mystical Rose

Br Ursus, inspired by the Rosary Rose he received on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary has been reading Blessed John Henry's book, 'The Mystical Rose'

Mary is the most beautiful flower that ever was seen in the spiritual world. It is by the power of God's grace that from this barren and desolate earth there have ever sprung up at all flowers of holiness and glory. And Mary is the Queen of them. She is the Queen of spiritual flowers; and therefore she is called the Rose, for the rose is fitly called of all flowers the most beautiful.

Irish Dominicans on the way to Knock ...

The Irish Dominican students on their way to Knock, County Mayo, for the Irish Province's annual pilgrimage, made a great impression on one journalist. You can listen here to what she had to say about meeting them.

The apparition at Knock in 1879 was a most unusual one, not a simple Marian apparition, more an apocalyptic vision of the Sacrificed Lamb surrounded by angels with Mary, St Joseph and St John the Evangelist standing at one side.

A reflection for October, Month of the Rosary

Recently I was having a conversation with someone about prayer and she mentioned that she rarely prayed the Rosary because she found it so hard to concentrate whenever she did. The Rosary is a beautiful prayer, but due to one reason or another many people never get to discover this beauty. It can feel like we're supposed to be doing so many things simultaneously – saying each Our Father and Hail Mary with due reverence, praying for our particular intentions, all the while trying to create vivid mental images of Christ and Our Lady in our mind's eye. If we fail in this endeavour, it's tempting to feel dejected and as though we've been through some pointless mechanical exercise. We might tell ourselves it's better not to pray the Rosary at all rather than to pray it badly.

Well the month of October is a good time to re-evaluate the place the Rosary has in our lives. Going back to the conversation I had with this person on prayer, I mentioned that I also found it hard to concentrate during the Rosary, but that it didn't really matter. As soon as I'd said this, I realized it could be taken the wrong way. Contemplation is a fundamental part of the Rosary. The French priest and Dominican tertiary St Louis De Montfort said:

The Rosary without meditation on the sacred mysteries of our salvation would almost be like a body without a soul; excellent matter, but without form which sets it apart from other devotions.


It is because of its meditative nature that many popes and saints have been so keen to promote the Rosary. In 1982, when John Paul II visited Fatima he told the people:

Do you want me to teach you a 'secret'? It is simple, and it is no longer a secret; pray, pray very much; recite the Rosary every day.

The Rosary is not an optional extra. It has the potential to transform our lives if we are willing. So where does that leave those of us who genuinely find it difficult to concentrate whilst praying the Rosary? Despite feeling I don't pray the Rosary particularly well, over the last few years in which I've been praying it on a daily basis, there are several things I've come to realize. Whilst we can pray the Rosary to varying degrees of perfection, it is not really possible to pray the Rosary badly. Although we should always hope that we might learn to pray the Rosary better, we are never worse off for praying it. We might have various bad attitudes that we become aware of when we pray the Rosary, but this is surely a good thing. It makes us realize how much we need God's mercy.

Another thing that I've noticed is how my attitude to Our Lady has changed over the last few years. Before I started praying the Rosary on a regular basis, I didn't feel I had any strong Marian devotion – I felt I hardly knew Our Lady. It is only through praying the Rosary that I've really started to appreciate who Mary is. She is our Mother, she loves us, she constantly prays for us, gently guiding us towards her Son. So we should feel entirely comfortable and at ease in her company. As a nun, St Bernadette used to encourage the sisters to pray the Rosary whilst going to sleep and would say “you will be like a little child who falls asleep saying 'Mama, Mama!'”


John Paul II said that as a young man, praying the Living Rosary helped him realize that not only does Our Mother Mary direct us towards Christ, but Christ also directs us towards His mother. Christ is saying 'look what marvels I have worked for my mother.' Devotion to the saints and especially to Our Lady, is so important because it marks out why our faith is so special. God's grace is not something superficial, but penetrates the core of our being. God has promised to make us like Himself. Our Lady is the first in whom this promise has been fulfilled, and so she is worthy of the highest of praise.