Godzdogz

By Br Gabriel Theis, O.P. | As often absent-minded creatures, we need good and simple prayers to focus on the important things in life. The famous ‘Breastplate’ by St Patrick helps us to balance our orientation towards Christ with the love for our neighbour. Read more

By Daniel Benedict Rowlands | With each Ave, we are drawn to share in the Blessed Mother's subversive work, that work of cooperation with the Redeemer that put enmity between Her and the Serpent, to which she gave her full assent at the Annunciation, and which can be seen coming into full bloom in her coronation as Queen of Heaven, and Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. Read more

By Br Vincent Antony Löning | As the academic year comes to a close for the student brothers, here are a few thoughts that have come to me throughout the course of this year. Study is an essential part of our Dominican life—and this is particularly obvious for those of us currently being formed for the priesthood. But that study can never be disconnected from our prayer. Read more

By Br Pablo Rodríguez Jordá | You have probably heard that the life of a Dominican revolves around four ‘pillars’: preaching, study, community and prayer. But if this is what distinguishes the Order of Preachers, you might be wondering, what is it that other orders devote themselves to? Read more

By Br Bede Mullens | The Scholastics used to say, “bonum est diffusivum sui”, “goodness spreads itself about”: a dictum people might be more inclined to indulge around Christmas time, and perhaps less as we approach mid-January of the New Year.  Read more

By Br Albert Robertson | In his recent apostolic exhortation Gaudete et exultate, our Holy Father Francis reflects on the everyday simplicity of the beatitudes as a way of ordering our lives towards holiness, describing holiness as ‘the most attractive face of the Church’ (Gaudete et exultate, §9). Read more

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Given that Lent is a time for greater focus on repentance, examining our consciences with renewed honesty is essential to obtaining that goal. I don’t know about you, but allowing myself to be more open about my own faults often feels scary. The process of getting to that state of honesty can feel a bit like dragging myself to the doctor’s office. In light of this, I have found it helpful to think of an examination of my conscience as being analogous to exploring my physical health with a first-rate medical doctor. In my experience, a good medical doctor is someone whose competency and empathy make me willing to tell that doctor anything I need to about my health, even things I might normally feel embarrassed about, because I believe that doctor is sincere and capable of giving me the right kind of care. Correspondingly, it can be helpful to think of examining one’s conscience as working with an outstanding doctor – the best doctor in existence.  Read more

Caryll Houselander was born in Bath on the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, 1901. Entering the Church at 7 years old, (hence calling herself ‘a rocking horse catholic’ in distinction to a ‘cradle catholic’), she became a writer, a poet, a mystic and a counsellor to many, particularly children, at the height of the blitz.  Read more