Carla Mae's Blog

“They will study…they will need no other penance.” -      Statement attributed to St. Dominic When the white light of our charism of preaching a just word shows its colors, we speak of common life, common prayer, study, and   mission/ministry. Study is the characteristic that marks our difference among other religious orders. Other orders study when it is helpful. Dominicans study because it is constitutive to their identity. Ask religious orders who they are, and they answer, “We are vowed persons who live community by common life, common prayer, and a common mission.” (The Benedictines might add “stability in monastic life,” and the Jesuits, “faithfulness to the Holy See”) But that’s not how a Dominican will answer. The Dominican man or woman answers, “We are vowed persons who live community by common life, common prayer, common study , and common mission.” So how do we study together ? We understand this pillar of our identity to exempt no one ...

“Think of yourself as a tree…”        Words of God to Catherine of Siena             Carla Mae Streeter, OP The full quotation is “So think of yourself as a tree made for love and living only by love… There is a circle in which this tree’s root, your love, must grow. That circle is true knowledge of yourself, knowledge that is joined to me, God, who like the circle have neither beginning nor end. You can go round and round with in this circle, finding neither end nor beginning, yet never leaving the circle…”     Dialogue 10 It is autumn, and the trees are revealing much to us if we have eyes to see. The Church, the Wisdom Woman, is looking for fruit. Yes, a fruitful tree speaks of rich growth, of fertility. Where does this fruit come from? What feeds it? The tree that is myself is fed by the fruit of another tree, the tree of the cross, which blossoms into resurrection...

The Spirit-Light that is the Dominican charism reveals beautiful hues like the rainbow. Also called the “pillars” of Dominican life, these mainstays are Common Life, Common Prayer, Study, and Mission/Ministry. We’ve reflected briefly on the vows which set the context for the charism, and on Common Life as a “Widening of the Tent.” What may be a new way to understand Common Prayer as we move forward in time? Common Prayer has always meant that praying with others is a part of our Dominican life. Usually it meant the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist. The importance of this “praying together” can be demonstrated with a simple image. Light a candle. Then invite five others to light a candle too. Your candlelight is piercing the darkness, but the power and beauty of the gathered light is even more beautiful to see. “Where two or more are gathered, there am I…” But in our times the “others” has suddenly become part of the “Widening of our Tent.” So who are these “other...