Witness Christ: Walking through life with God

Audio series continued

2012-01-29T20:33:00.001Z

I planned to keep up posting the Audio Series on Catherine of Siena on my blog, but as I am in the middle of my exams I have fallen behind a bit...

So if you are interested, please follow us on Dominicans Interactive.

St Catherine of Siena: Christ the Bridge

2012-01-22T14:49:00.000Z

From Ears to Hear:

This reading is a selection of excerpts from the Dialogue of St Catherine. The Dialogue is Catherine’s great work, and it’s structured, as the title suggests, as a Dialogue between God the Father and Catherine herself. In these excerpts, we meet one of Catherine’s keys to understanding the work of Christ: he is like a bridge between us and our home in heaven.

(Excerpted from 'Catherine of Siena: Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity', ed. Mary O'Driscoll OP)

New App for learning Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

2012-01-21T16:24:00.000Z

The app is called iDoms Vocab, and is a continuation of the joint project between the Irish Province of the Dominicans and the St. Joseph's Province to use the new modern technologies in preaching and teaching the Gospel.

Have a look if you are studying Latin, Greek or Hebrew! It is free to download, and free to try. We do ask a small compensation for the bigger wordlists to help us cover the costs involved in our development, which are available as In-App purchases.

We have written to a few authors about permission to add in more word lists (e.g. JACT's Reading Greek and Reading Latin, and Familia Roma). As soon as we hear back we will release an update with more word lists. If you have any wordlists you would like to have added (preferably if you actually have the list in Word or Excel or so) please write to us using the contact form on the website and, pending copyright restrictions, we will add it.

Here are some more pictures:

St Catherine of Siena: Behave Like a Person in Love!

2012-01-20T16:14:00.002Z

On Dominicans Interactive we have started a new Audio Series on Saint Catherine of Siena.

The reading that follows is an excerpt from St Catherine of Siena to her confessor, a Dominican friar, Bartolomeo Dominici. It highlights some of her classic images: God as a deep, peaceful sea, and God’s love as a fire.

Ears to Hear - Introduction to St Catherine of Siena

2012-01-15T10:31:00.000Z

We have started a new audio series, this time on Saint Catherine of Siena.

For the full article about Saint Catherine please go to our website: http://www.dominicansinteractive.com/

or listen to the recording here below:

The Baptism of Our Lord

2012-01-08T09:52:00.002Z

On the Gospel of Mark 1:7-11

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. The Gospel is taken from the beginning of the Gospel according to Mark. It is a real beginning as John the Baptist specifically reveals Christ to the world, after centuries of expectation; John preached about Christ, and all those who received his teaching he baptized with water. This was a custom of the Jews which admitted converts to Judaism. It was a token of them cleansing themselves by repentance and reformation, and also of God's cleansing them both by forgiveness and by sanctification, which were the blessings promised.

It is striking how Jesus comes forward to be baptised. In the Gospel according to Matthew we can read that John protests against baptising Jesus, but Jesus firmly holds that it is necessary. Jesus really took upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh, so that, although He was perfectly pure and unspotted, He was still washed as if He had been polluted. For our sake He sanctified himself, so that we also might be sanctified, and be baptized with him (cf. Jn. 17:19). The event at the river Jordan, while revealing so much of the Father's love and of the Trinity itself was, from the worlds point of view, only something noticed by a very small group. But the encounter with God is usually small but significant I find, and we have to learn to see God working in our lives in the small but significant ways He does.

It sounds majestic when the heavens opened, and the spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove, but we too receive the Spirit, and we can perceive the Spirit descending and working in us, even if it is only a small whisper and not a loud voice. The encounter with God is an encounter that goes deeper than anything else, it always leaves us changed, but we have to allow it to go deep.

What really strikes me on the feast of the Epiphany is the verse in which the Magi left and "they departed to their own country by another way" (Matt 2:12 RSV). The Magi came a long way to see this King, and "they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" (Matt 2:10 RSV) when they arrived. They went into the house... and they only found a little child...

But this was the encounter and "they departed to their own country by another way", they did not go back the way they came! They were changed by the encounter with the child, and their life was never the same again... this seemingly little insignificant event in the history of the world made a deep impact on their lives...

So let us allow the encounter with God, as little as it seems to be, to make a significant impact on our lives, and then, we too, as adopted children of God, will hear the words of the Father: "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

Symposium - How in Heaven's name did we get from Bethlehem to here?

2012-01-02T08:19:00.000Z

'How in Heaven's name did we get from Bethlehem to here?: What we can learn from the early Church'. Fr Tom McCarthy OP, a priest of the Irish Province of Dominicans, guides us through some of the main developments in early Christian theology, showing how the whole process is really an unpacking of the central Gospel event: God becoming man in Jesus Christ.

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-25T10:45:00.000Z

Today we celebrate the nativity of our Lord! Let us rejoice, be glad, and reflect on the gift that is given. Jesus did not come to us to save us because we merited it, as we can hear in the reading of the Dawn Mass, but come to us because he loves us! Let us respond to His love by embracing the gifts He is giving us!

Please listen to a part of a sermon by Pope St Leo the Great in our Ears to Hear series::

Ears to Hear 9: Sermon by St Augustine

2011-12-24T16:32:00.000Z

It’s nearly Christmas! After weeks of waiting, the day of the Birth of our Lord is just around the corner. Today’s reading is a reminder then, to get things in perspective. If you have been absorbed recently in the commercial side of Christmas, St Augustine’s reading reminds us of the true meaning of the season: ‘Wake up, O man’, he says, ‘it was for you that God was made man!’

Please listen:

Ears to Hear 8: Homily of St Bernard (141)

2011-12-24T16:29:00.000Z

Throughout the twenty centuries of Christianity, writers and preachers have been falling over each other trying to do justice to Mary, the Mother of God. Perhaps the most successful in this regard is St Bernard of Clairvaux. He was a Cistercian monk and he had an enormous impact on the Europe of his day. Here, though, we see his tender side, as he addresses our blessed Mother. Appropriately for this stage of Advent, he turns to the moment when the Word became flesh, when Mary said Yes to what God was asking of her.

Please listen:

Ears to Hear 7: Epistle to Diognetus

2011-12-20T16:33:00.000Z

The Letter to Diognetus is one of the most interesting documents we have from the early Church. It was probably written in the second century, and is an example of early Christian apologetics, that is, explaining the Christian faith to pagans. We don’t know who wrote this text, the author refers to himself only as ‘a disciple’. In the segment we will hear today, the writer reflects on how the coming into the world of the Son of God is a revelation of God’s love for us.

Please listen:

Credo Series Preview

2011-12-18T10:44:00.000Z

We are currently in the process of recording a series which explains the Nicene Creed, as recited during Mass on Sundays. The Creed expounds the fundamentals of our faith. This series is aimed to give an easy to understand explanation of the different articles of our faith. Have a look at the preview:

Youth 2000 Christmas retreat in Newbridge!

2011-12-16T10:43:00.000Z

For anybody in Ireland who is still considering to com to the Youth 2000 Chrsitmass retreat in Newbridge: DO, come and join us! More info on the Y2k website!

This is a recording of the retreat two years ago:

Ears to Hear 6 - Augustine on the Psalms (98)

2011-12-15T10:21:00.000Z

We continue our series of Advent readings today with another excerpt from St Augustine’s writings – I warned you that he wrote a lot! Today he’s talking about one of his favourite topics: desire! For Augustine, having desire in our hearts is a good thing, but it must be desire for the right things. Ultimately, he thinks, desire will lead us to God, who alone can satisfy us completely. In the meantime, we should be like lovers yearning for the presence of the Beloved. And so, as the days get darker, our yearning for the light of Bethlehem grows stronger and stronger.

Please listen:

Symposium - Friendship, Religion and the Spread of Darwinism

2011-12-12T10:47:00.000Z

In this episode of St. Saviour's Symposium we have Dr Miguel DeArce giving a presentation on 'Friendship, Religion and the Spread of Darwinism'.

Ears to Hear 5: Sermon by Augustine

2011-12-11T10:38:00.001Z

We hear again this week from St Augustine, the great teacher of the Christian West. In today’s reading, he’s comparing the figures of John the Baptist and Christ. John the Baptist is a great Advent figure. He reminds us that preparing for Christmas involves not only buying presents, but also a spiritual preparation: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ he says! He teaches us also the great virtue of humility too – he wished only to stand aside when Christ arrived on the scene. This is the humility with which we should be approaching the Christ-child in the cradle...

Please listen:

I briefly featured on onebillionstories.com

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000Z

Two of us Irish Dominicans, Fr. David and myself, featured on onebillionstories.com:

Ears to Hear 4: Augustine on the Psalms

2011-12-08T21:55:00.001Z

St Augustine was a Roman African who lived in the dying days of the Roman Empire, he was a bishop, a theologian, and one of the greatest minds of the early Church. He wrote and preached an enormous amount of material, and we hear today a selection from his teaching on the book of Psalms.

Please listen:

Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus!

2011-12-04T11:15:00.000Z

The Gospel today is taken form the beginning of the Gospel according to Mark. Here, at the very beginning, Mark situates the historical events of the incarnation Word of God in the Old Testament tradition, making sure that there can be no doubt of who Jesus really is:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”

“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

This Sunday focusses on John the Baptist. John gives us the promise of 'the one to come'. And while that promise was historically towards the start of the ministry of Jesus here on earth, it is always a promise which is alive and active!

God has promised us that He will come, in the second coming, the time when the promise of Heaven will become a reality for all of us. But the fact that the promise will be fulfilled, and the hope this gives us during our lives does not take away from the fact that God is alive and active in our live now and then.

The fact that God promises to come does not mean He is not with us now! He has sent us the spirit to console us, to guide us, to be with us every monument of the day. God is active in our lives, always tries to help us, and is always seeking to deepen the relationship He has with us.

There might be a tendency nowadays to think that 'even if God exists' that God is not actively involved in creation. A philosophy which can be excused, I guess, as we can see the devastation and sufferings all around us, but an indication of a poor understanding of our possible closeness to God. We can indeed live a life where God is distant, a God who just kicked the ball into the air at the beginning of time, and who is not with us during our lifetime. Even if we are firm believers, this can give us the hope which makes life worth living. But God is offering us so much more! He is offering us a friendship, a personal friendship, inviting us to walk close to Him, to walk with Him during our lives. To make part of the fullness of Joy which we will enjoy in His presence in Heaven might already be fulfilled in our lives here on earth!

This is a reality, a reality to which millions of people testify! And so, an invitation during this time of Advent can be to reflect on this possibility, to review what our 'attitude' is towards God's friendship in our lives... Do we want this friendship, do we want to walk close to God, and are we prepared to spend the time in prayer to build up this friendship? Are we ready to quite our own voices to listen to the little voice in our heart, the Holy Spirit whispering encouragement to us?

It is only when we allow God to be near to us that we can really discover the fullness of life! This is a fact, a fact that can be seen in the lives of so many who have accepted God's gracious gift!

Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus!

New audio series!

2011-12-04T10:29:00.001Z

The students of the Dominican Order in Ireland have begun an audio series, called 'Ears to Hear' (taken from Revelation). Currently, the series has little reading appropriate to the session of Advent. I wilt try from now on to post them on my Blog.

Of course you can also see them on the website 'Dominicans Interactive' or use our iPhone/iPad App to follow us!

Introduction to Ears to Hear:

Ears to Hear - Advent 1:

Ears to Hear - Advent 2:

Ears to Hear - Advent 3:

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival (27th November 2011)

2011-11-27T10:49:00.001Z

I only wrote a few lines on the start of Advent this week, trying to get the balance between work, study and prayer, where it will be obvious from reading the reflection that I am tipping a bit over towards the first two at the moment:

Advent has come... Already!

But while my reflection is a bit short and rushed, I would like to point to some other resources we have been working on. On our website 'Dominicans Interactive' we have started an audio series, currently with readings and reflection pertaining to Advent. We will post an audio podcast twice a week!

You can listen to the podcast on the website, of course, but also in the next day or two by subscribing to our iTunes Podcast or using the Dominican iDoms Reader App:

The iDoms Reader can be
downloaded from the App Store^SM

There is also ussually a Gospel reflection on our website 'Dominicans Interactive'!

Also have a look at our other video's, we are on iTunes as well with Podcasts!

Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival is a weekly opportunity to share our best posts with the wider Catholic blogging community. To participate, create a post named "Sunday Snippets - A Catholic Carnival" highlighting posts of the last week that would be of interest to Catholics and link to the host post . Then go to the host blog and leave a comment giving a link to your post.

Advent has come... already!

2011-11-27T10:28:00.001Z

The old has gone, the new has come... another liturgical year has once more finished: time really flies. It was only a realisation which slowly seeped into my conscious since we celebrated first Vespers of Advent yesterday. I can remember last year that I already anticipated the comping, of advent, my reflection of the week before looking towards the year that was finishing up, the reflection of Advent to what is ahead.

Si in the last week you might have reflected on the last year, and especially what has happened in our lives over the last year. You might have, I didn't... as mentioned above, advent kind of 'sprung' on me, maybe a reflection on how well I am tuned into the more 'spiritual side' of life at the moment.

So for anyone who is in the same situation as I am, I think is is good though to stand still now by this fact that we are moving into the new liturgical year. Advent is a time of reflection, and maybe now is a better time to see where we are then with the celebration of the start of the year 2012, which can be overshadowed by celebrations...

I is important, it seems to me to reflect on a regular basis on how God has been at work in our lives. It is often only in hindsight, after a significant amount of time that we can see that the wobbly, uneven and twisted path we walk on are actually much straighter than we initially thought... maybe we just had to be lead around a few difficulties on the way, in order not to get stuck in a swamp or fall down a cliff...

So this can be a good start of Advent, to consider this, and stand still especially on what God has done for us, where he is leading us. But after that Advent on itself seems a time to more look forward. Advent is a time of preparation, a time in which we look forward to God to become man through the incarnation, after which He walked amount us being borne with the nativity. The Gospel this week encourages us, taken from Mark 13:33-37, in which Jesus tells us to "Be on your guard, stay awake".

Especially the first two weeks of Advent are a reflection on the end-times, the second coming of Jesus. Hence the encouragement to be ready, to stand guard, "because you never know when the time will come".

Advent is a time when it is possible to make this extra effort, a bit like Lent, but different. It is a time to watch and pray, to make the effort to spend some time in preparation and reflect on our relation with our Lord, or on our readiness to meet Him when He comes, a coming which is a continues process, which is supposed to be a daily encounter....

Good and faithful servant, come and join in your Masters happiness!

2011-11-13T09:32:00.001Z

The Gospel this week is from Matthew 25:14-30. It is the parable of the the man who goes abroad for a long time, and entrusts his servants with some of his resources. According to their ability he gives three servants five, two and one talent respectively. The first servant, with five talents used his talent (it is actually nice in English that the name for the coin talent is the same as talent in the sense of ability), and earns another five and similar for the second servant who received two talents and doubles his amount. But the third servant does not use the talent that was given, and instead hides it until the return of his Master.

There are a few things that struck me while meditating on this passage. First of all, it seems that we should not take the parable literal. This will result in some kind of confusion, at least on my part, as the dealing of the Master with the third servant does not seem fair at all if the reading is taken at face value.

Instead, which seems obvious, we can take that the Master represents God. God created us, and knows us, He is very close to us and as such with us. However, here on earth he seems far away, not directly visible, even though he is still the closest to us. And so as in the parable where the man goes on a long journey abroad, far away, and is only coming back 'along time after'. But he does not go away without leaving the servants with specific 'talents'. Here we can take talents as the talents God gives us to do things. He gives us talents in order that we can help Him in bringing other closer to Him, and that is part of our duty as baptized Christians, we use our talents to build up the Kingdom of God.

So the first two servant use their talents wisely, and produce fruit, and as we can read fruit that will last. The master says to them 'Well done, good and faithful servant [...] come and join in your Master's happiness'. The happiness here is the Greek word Karra (χαρά), which is closely related to Karis (χάρις), which means Grace. Grace can be explained as the gift of God to participate with Him in his own life, to join with Him in the most intimate union, and so this is really an invitation of God to join Him in Heaven and to be eternally happy with Him.

Tis then sheds a bit more light on the third servant, and the stiff rebuke that is made. The third servant is given a talent as well, but doesn't use it. I am not sure exactly how to take the fact that he gives as excuse 'that he is afraid of the Master', but it seems to me that God is exactly doing what the servant accuses Him off, God reaps where he has not sown, gathered where he has not scattered, but not in a negative way, but in a positive way out of zeal for His children.

Hence the rebuke that the servant is lazy, and should have put his talent in the bank and at least get some result from it seems justified. The talents God gives us are for the building up of the Kingdom, to bring others to eternal happiness, to show them the way in which they can reach the fullness of life. The third servant does not seem to be comfortable with that, and as such denies the free gift of God and puts it in the damp ground, hiding it in the dark so not to be confronted with it (and possibly with the link to his Master). Therefor the third servant indirectly decides to deny the free gift of eternal happiness which God is given Him as well.

I think that is one way to look at the parable, and there a many small nuances in the rather long passage. I would encourage you to read over it again, and meditate on it for a while. The Gospel is the living Word of God, it speaks to or heart. The Gospel was the force which made me convert from not believing in God at all to eventually becoming a Dominican brother, giving my whole life to God by being a religious! The Word is a force to be reckoned with, but a very gentle force which whispers quietly in our hearts... so quietly that we can easy forget the power it has to transform us in the real images in which we are made!

Discussion on WYD - 2011

2011-11-02T09:40:00.000Z

This is a recording of a discussion in which the students of the Irish Dominicans had to look back on World Youth Day in Madrid last August.

World Youth Day Madrid - 2011

2011-10-30T09:39:00.002Z

A short video of the Irish Dominican Pilgrimage to Madrid - 2011, starting with the visit to Caleruega, Salamanca, Avila, Toledo and then Madrid.