For life professed members the rule requires an hour of daily Scripture study which can be done in a variety of forms (language studies, book studies, memorization, praying, etc)
Knowing the truths of Scripture is critical for any Christian who desires to grow, but for a Dominican knowing the Scripture well is essential. How can one be a preacher (in whatever form) if we do not know the truths and words of the Gospel of Christ?
How do you regularly engage in the Scripture and what is your plan for moving toward the hour of study (if you are not already life professed)?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Daily Office
The Rule of our Order calls for the daily observance of the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer.
These offices are intended to be prayed with others (in community), but for many of us we have to pray them alone.
Ordinarily, (though not stated in the Rule) the form for these services would be taken from the Book of Common Prayer.
The idea of the daily offices is to keep holy time - that is to base our daily schedule around prayer and our commitment to Christ and not merely to include Christ and prayer when time allows.
The full Anglican office also includes the noonday office and compline though these are not required by the rule.
What is your experience of praying the office? What is most difficult about it? Has there been any "benefit" for you in doing it?
Please post your comments and feel free to respond to others comments as the week progresses.
These offices are intended to be prayed with others (in community), but for many of us we have to pray them alone.
Ordinarily, (though not stated in the Rule) the form for these services would be taken from the Book of Common Prayer.
The idea of the daily offices is to keep holy time - that is to base our daily schedule around prayer and our commitment to Christ and not merely to include Christ and prayer when time allows.
The full Anglican office also includes the noonday office and compline though these are not required by the rule.
What is your experience of praying the office? What is most difficult about it? Has there been any "benefit" for you in doing it?
Please post your comments and feel free to respond to others comments as the week progresses.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Informal Customary for Catherine House
A customary is a guide to liturgical and other practice for a church, diocese, or religious community.
Here are some things you may find helpful to know.
These are based on the Rule of the Order as well developed practice within the community.
HABITS AND CLOTHING
Full-Liturgical Habit:
- black cinctrure (prayer rope/rosary optional), black cowl, white alb, with scapular (optional), and cross (optional)
To be worn when serving in the liturgy in some way. It may be worn at anytime at the discretion of the brother or sister.
For example, I wore the full habit almost all the time when I served and lived in NJ (and this was at a camp and conference center!). I remember visiting a youth event once and playing football while wearing the whole deal, I still made some touch downs!
Street-Habit:
- any combination of black and white clothing, cross (optional), clerical collar or if lay member Morivian collar (like the one Brother Ken wears)
To be worn when engaged in any kind of ministry work or when attending weekend worship, but not serving in the liturgy (though it is perfectly acceptable to wear the full-habit when just attending worship).
For example, before I came to North Dakota I served in an essentially non-liturgical, very low, Lutheran Church near Philadelphia. We didn't use vestments, no liturgy, and no collars by the other two pastors. I wore a street habit (black trousers, white shirt, and black vest, with cross) for close to three years when I was there.
When Not in Liturgy or Engaged in Ministry
Left to the discretion of the brother or sister. You will find some look to wear black and white cominbations virtually all of the time as a sign of their vow of simplicity and their committment to their vows. Some are unable to do this at work and some discern another way for them.
For example, I almost ways tend to be in street habit (clericals for me as a priest), or even a white and black combination when at informal things, but on occasion, and esp. if I'm going out somewhere with my wife will wear civilian clothes.
FORMS OF ADDRESS
Brother or Sister As Appropriate to Gender
There are two major views on the use of religious forms of address (e.g. Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Bishop, etc)
1st: and this is by far the most popular view today, is that they are merely formal titles and should be rarely used, or perhaps used with children, or in very select settings. The thought is these are burdenson and seperate the ordained or vowed person for the rest of the body and this should not be done.
2nd: and this is an older more sacrament view, these aren't merely formal titles, but represent the fact that a person has given up their status as a "private individual" to become a living and breathing symbol of the Church. Calling the priest Father reminds the priest that he is a man under orders, called to represent the heavenly Father. It reminds the people that they are part of a sacramental church and that the priest is their soul doctor, a person who is to help them get close to God, and not just their buddy, or a nice guy who leads church services.
Most of us would not say "That guy is going to spalsh some water on that kid" or "we are going to have some bread today" or "we are going to that building with the fancy windows this morning" and so on. We are a sacramental church and don't believe its just water spashling on the kid, and we don't believe its just bread, and we don't believe its just a building, and so on. We believe more is at work here.
In the same way the Church believe that a priest is more than just a man wearing a funny shirt, and a brother or sister is more than just a person with a nice black hood.
Use of Religious Address
You will find it varies considerably in the Church and even within the Order. I for example am old school in a variety of ways including in the use of religious address - esp in the context of parish and diocesan life.
Please e-mail or post to the blog your thoughts, comments, questions, and experiences with these matters.
Here are some things you may find helpful to know.
These are based on the Rule of the Order as well developed practice within the community.
HABITS AND CLOTHING
Full-Liturgical Habit:
- black cinctrure (prayer rope/rosary optional), black cowl, white alb, with scapular (optional), and cross (optional)
To be worn when serving in the liturgy in some way. It may be worn at anytime at the discretion of the brother or sister.
For example, I wore the full habit almost all the time when I served and lived in NJ (and this was at a camp and conference center!). I remember visiting a youth event once and playing football while wearing the whole deal, I still made some touch downs!
Street-Habit:
- any combination of black and white clothing, cross (optional), clerical collar or if lay member Morivian collar (like the one Brother Ken wears)
To be worn when engaged in any kind of ministry work or when attending weekend worship, but not serving in the liturgy (though it is perfectly acceptable to wear the full-habit when just attending worship).
For example, before I came to North Dakota I served in an essentially non-liturgical, very low, Lutheran Church near Philadelphia. We didn't use vestments, no liturgy, and no collars by the other two pastors. I wore a street habit (black trousers, white shirt, and black vest, with cross) for close to three years when I was there.
When Not in Liturgy or Engaged in Ministry
Left to the discretion of the brother or sister. You will find some look to wear black and white cominbations virtually all of the time as a sign of their vow of simplicity and their committment to their vows. Some are unable to do this at work and some discern another way for them.
For example, I almost ways tend to be in street habit (clericals for me as a priest), or even a white and black combination when at informal things, but on occasion, and esp. if I'm going out somewhere with my wife will wear civilian clothes.
FORMS OF ADDRESS
Brother or Sister As Appropriate to Gender
There are two major views on the use of religious forms of address (e.g. Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Bishop, etc)
1st: and this is by far the most popular view today, is that they are merely formal titles and should be rarely used, or perhaps used with children, or in very select settings. The thought is these are burdenson and seperate the ordained or vowed person for the rest of the body and this should not be done.
2nd: and this is an older more sacrament view, these aren't merely formal titles, but represent the fact that a person has given up their status as a "private individual" to become a living and breathing symbol of the Church. Calling the priest Father reminds the priest that he is a man under orders, called to represent the heavenly Father. It reminds the people that they are part of a sacramental church and that the priest is their soul doctor, a person who is to help them get close to God, and not just their buddy, or a nice guy who leads church services.
Most of us would not say "That guy is going to spalsh some water on that kid" or "we are going to have some bread today" or "we are going to that building with the fancy windows this morning" and so on. We are a sacramental church and don't believe its just water spashling on the kid, and we don't believe its just bread, and we don't believe its just a building, and so on. We believe more is at work here.
In the same way the Church believe that a priest is more than just a man wearing a funny shirt, and a brother or sister is more than just a person with a nice black hood.
Use of Religious Address
You will find it varies considerably in the Church and even within the Order. I for example am old school in a variety of ways including in the use of religious address - esp in the context of parish and diocesan life.
Please e-mail or post to the blog your thoughts, comments, questions, and experiences with these matters.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
2008 Chapter Concluded
The 2008 Chapter of the Anglican Order of Preachers concluded Saturday, August 9th, at 12noon.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Postulants to Take Novice Promises
Brother to Take Life Vows
God willing Brother Ken Murphy O.P. will take life vows in the Anglican Order of Preachers on Friday - the feast of Saint Dominic - on August 8th at Grace Episcopal Church, Jamestown, ND.
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