tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115784272026-02-23T16:03:09.911+01:00A meagre contribution to the mission and work of the Order of Preachers: my reflections, thoughts, ideas and the occasional rant on matters mainly theological, philosophical and ecclesiastical, drawn primarily from my reading and experience of life and the world. Striving to be always Catholic, firmly Christian and essentially Dominican, flavoured with dashes of Von Balthasar.Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.comBlogger515125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-56632327745613382932006-12-24T00:17:00.000+01:002008-12-11T14:04:05.596+01:00

Click to enlarge... and please do visit 'Godzdogz', the new English Dominican students' blog

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1163093770039738222006-11-09T17:06:00.000+01:002006-11-19T02:16:10.206+01:00

The Dominican student brothers at our Studium (Blackfriars) in Oxford have started a new blog, which I shall be significantly involved in, called 'Godzdogz'. The site will officially 'launch' and become active on the first Sunday of Advent. Please click the link or the photo above to visit the site.When in Advent of 1511, fray Antonio de Montesino preached a sermon condemning the unjust treatment

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150641449379872052006-06-18T15:09:00.000+01:002006-06-18T15:45:04.920+01:00

"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150639651908542362006-06-18T14:58:00.000+01:002006-06-18T15:07:32.153+01:00

As promised, here are some photos from our Eucharistic Procession on Thursday, the Feast of Corpus et Sanguinis Christi, which was held in the grounds of the Dominican Priory in Cambridge:The Blessed Sacrament was taken under a canopy on procession around the garden. Above, bearing torches, are Sr Jordan James, OP and the Prior, Fr Richard Conrad, OP who served as deacon at the Mass.We knelt in

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150321900104412112006-06-17T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-16T21:07:27.480+01:00

On this Saturday after (or before, in some countries) the Feast of Corpus Christi, let us contemplate this wonderful sacrament with Mary. As the words of this famous hymn puts it:"Ave verum Corpus, natum De Maria Virgine, Vere passum, immolatum In cruce pro homine, Cuius latus perforatum Unda fluxit et sanguine, Esto nobis praegustatum In mortis examine."'Hail, true Body,

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150314665449805242006-06-16T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-15T23:13:00.540+01:00

The English Church rejoices this day in the memory of St Richard de la Wyche (c.1197-1253), Bishop of Chichester. St Richard was born in Droitwich (hence his 'surname') near Worcester and was initially educated by Benedictines.He went on to study at Oxford, Paris and Bologna and was captivated by the new Order of Friars Preachers. He studied theology with the Dominicans in Orleans and was

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150070300072323292006-06-15T18:00:00.000+01:002006-06-15T23:22:49.473+01:00

UPDATE: PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED THIS SUNDAY...The Dominican Priory of St Michael the ArchangelBLACKFRIARSBuckingham Road, CambridgeThe Solemnity ofCORPUS ET SANGUINIS CHRISTI(A Holy Day of Obligation)Second Vespers 6pmSolemn Mass 7pmfollowed by Corpus Christi Procession and BenedictionReception afterwards in the Priory

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150296078848311462006-06-15T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-14T20:03:38.956+01:00

The English Jesuit, St Robert Southwell (1561-1595) was a poet of some note, who was martyred for the Faith at Tyburn. Unlike his family who capitulated to Anglicanism, St Robert Southwell maintained and professed the Faith of the apostles and saints and he wrote much of his poetry, which is radiant with this Faith, when he was imprisoned for it. It is believed that some of the saint's poetry was

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150320040583356452006-06-14T22:10:00.000+01:002006-06-15T23:21:54.780+01:00

The first episode of 'The Convent' which follows four English women trying to live with the Poor Clares in their community in Arundel has just been aired on BBC 2 tonight. It was an excellent introduction to contemplative religious life and I was very moved by the women's stories and experiences. We're really looking forward to the next episode and the series promises to be as good as, if not

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150207168201280612006-06-14T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-13T22:51:28.083+01:00

The Holy Eucharist is Viaticum, Bread for the Way. Some of us may be familiar with Tolkien's interpretation of this phrase, as expressed in the 'Lembas', or 'Waybread' which the elves give to the Fellowship of the Ring: this Bread is more strengthening than any other food known to mankind, it is offensive to evil creatures and the more one relies on it alone, the more powerful its effect on the

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150130475837078012006-06-13T08:32:00.000+01:002006-06-13T08:36:33.986+01:00

"The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his household, to give them their share of bread at the proper time" (Lk 12:42).This verse is fittingly given as the Communion antiphon in the Common of Doctors of the Church. Today, we commemorate one such doctor, St Anthony of Padua, popularly invoked as the patron of lost things (and persons)! However, St Anthony was also known for his love

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150103232417441542006-06-12T10:03:00.000+01:002006-06-12T10:07:12.446+01:00

Of your Charity, please pray for the Repose of the Soul offra' Romeo Asuzano, O.P.who was called to the Lord on this day in 2004.Readers who are not aware of the manner and nature of his passing and the significance of this event in my life, may want to read last year's post."Receive our prayers, O Lord, on behalf of the soul of Thy servant Romeo,that if the stains of earthly contagion remain,

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150046976766390512006-06-12T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-12T10:08:38.686+01:00

The next three days before the beautiful Solemnity of Corpus et Sanguinis Christi may be marked as a 'Triduum'. The Lord's sublime gift of the Holy Eucharist is so central to our lives that, in so many ways, our thoughts, reflections and contemplation often dwells upon It. However, just as we have just celebrated a Feast, highlighting our faith in the Triune God, confessing the One Whom we

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1150067860807705022006-06-11T23:57:00.000+01:002006-06-12T00:17:40.936+01:00

It came as a revelation to me that Rocco Palmo, who writes for 'The Tablet' and who blogs the informative and delightful Whispers in the Loggia is only twenty-three years old. And he has some very interesting view points, which are well worth reading. Do check out The Rocco Report and The Gospel according to Rocco. Here are a few quotations I felt was quite thoughtful and insightful:About the

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149938640625674642006-06-11T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-11T01:15:24.330+01:00

Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas atque indivisa unitas:Blessed be the holy Trinity, and undivided unity:Te toto corde et ore confitemur, laudamus atque benedicimus:tibi gloria in saecula!With all heart and voice we confess, praise and bless You:to You be glory forever!Fr Geoffrey Preston, OP, in his book, 'Hallowing the Time', offers some thoughts for today's great Solemnity and encourages all to

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149958957833504632006-06-10T17:42:00.000+01:002006-06-10T18:04:47.640+01:00

Bro Paul Mills and I watched England's first game in the FIFA World Cup this afternoon, which produced a not-great-but-satisfactory result... however (as usual) my mind was ticking over with other thoughts. I have long wanted to research and write a thesis on 'Elements of Ritual, Cultus, and Liturgy in Football' and could not help noticing how many 'religious' or 'devotional' aspects there are to

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149872682918948452006-06-10T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-09T18:04:44.923+01:00

Freedom is one of contemporary society's most valued concepts and yet it is probably least understood; many seem to view freedom as liberality or relativism. The freedom that Christ promises us however, is true freedom, predicate on the Truth (cf Jn 8:32). Rather like the peace He gives us which is not of this world (cf Jn 14:32), so too this promised freedom is not the kind which the world

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149780784337396822006-06-09T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-08T23:32:51.516+01:00

In the Novena before Pentecost, we looked at the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and tried to gain some understanding into how these Gifts aid us in the spiritual life and facilitate our growth in holiness. In a sense, these Gifts train and teach us to advance in the Christian life of perfection, perfecting the virtues within us, and the One who trains us and causes the virtues to mature is the

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149751185997531472006-06-08T08:16:00.000+01:002006-06-08T08:21:48.726+01:00

Today, we join the Dominican nuns in celebrating the memorial of Blessed Diana and Blessed Cecilia. One of the great joys of the Order of Preachers is the various branches that comprise the Dominican Family. The contemplative nuns of the Order are the oldest branch and indeed, this year they celebrate 800 years of the Dominican charism which first took root among them at Prouille in 1206. The

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149604430920615002006-06-07T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-06T20:08:43.080+01:00

Today's reflection by an anonymous Carthusian monk, given as conferences to novices, beautifully describes the Holy Spirit as the kiss of love between the Father and the Son. Thus the Church says in the words of Solomon's Song: "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine" (Song of Songs 1:2). Truly on Pentecost, Holy Mother Church has been kissed by her

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149547189457188502006-06-06T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-05T23:46:13.373+01:00

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." (Jn 16:13).We continue our journey during the Octave of Pentecost by considering through the conferences of a Carthusian monk what it means to call the Holy Spirit the 'Spirit of truth':"The Paraclete is called the Spirit of Truth because he is the Spirit of Christ, who, himself, is the Truth. Certainly, Christ revealed

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149545476636348892006-06-05T23:07:00.000+01:002006-06-05T23:11:16.960+01:00

Br Paul Mills and I have now entered the final stage of our Novitiate. The process has begun for our brethren to consider and vote on whether we may proceed to make Simple Profession in September. We had our first interviews today and the Formation Council votes on 16 June. Following that, if successful, we shall have yet another interview before the Provincial Council votes on 9 July. The Prior

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149439603398593642006-06-05T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-04T20:32:09.490+01:00

For the Octave of Pentecost, we shall consider various roles attributed to the Holy Spirit and hopefully, come to know better who He is in our Christian lives. From the Ascension until Pentecost Sunday, the versicle after the brief Scripture reading at Vespers simply sang: "Spiritus Paraclitus", 'The Spirit [is the] Paraclete'... This word, Paraclete, taken from St John's Gospel, is a Greek word,

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149456489488775022006-06-04T22:21:00.000+01:002006-06-04T22:34:27.880+01:00

My Stat-Counter logged its second visit to date from the Holy See today... I often wonder what people working at the Vatican think of the many Catholic weblogs that are around and which ones they read, if any! Well, for the visitor from the Vatican City State who stopped by, albeit for 0 seconds (!): "Benvenuto".

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578427.post-1149366138688214252006-06-04T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-03T23:49:50.470+01:00

"And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak of the wonderful works of God." (Acts 2:4)Today's reflection for Pentecost Sunday was preached by fra' Johannes Tauler, O.P., (c.1300 - 1361) who was a contemporary and disciple of the Dominican Meister Eckhart, one of the school of Rhineland mystics and one of the most influential medieval German preachers who is credited (among

Lawrence Lew OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709noreply@blogger.com1