Dominican Vocations

	DOMINICAN VOCATIONS PROVINCE OF THE ASSUMPTION

Site map	Discernment	Br Paul Rowse, O.P.
Home News -------------------------- Welcome Benedict XVI Master -------------------------- History Introduction St Dominic's gift Australia --------------------------- Order Discernment Formation Dominican habit Novitiate Studentate --------------------------- Life Introduction Four pillars Apostolate --------------------------- People Dominican saints Our brethren --------------------------- Resources Lectio Divina Links Prayer Reading --------------------------- Site dedication	We owe a great debt of gratitude to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Divine Maternity is the sum total and crown of all the graces and privileges conferred on the Blessed Virgin. All honour that is her due is derived from the fact that in the human race she is a unique person above all else, without equal, who has such a Son in common with the Father the Almighty. This is reason enough for us to give thanks to Mary; but there is something else that may be said here that can help the discerner. In the history of the world, no event before the Annunciation was more significant. Since the Annunciation, the human race has had grace upon grace bestowed upon it – including the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Never again can it be said that God is distant, deaf to pleading (cf. Heb 4:15). The Annunciation truly is the great turning point in our history. The dialogue between Mary and the angel Gabriel indicates a profound change in the way God deals with the human race. Our Lady dared to question the angel about the will of God: “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Lk 1:34). It might be worth bearing in mind the fate of others who dared to question. Take Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, as an example. He too dared to question what he was told: 'Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.' .. Zechariah said to the angel, 'How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years?' (Lk 1:13, 18). Zechariah suffered the consequences – he was made mute for his unbelief, completely unable to speak until he fulfilled the will of God: “He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 'His name is John' .. immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak.” (Lk 1:63-64). Zechariah dared to question and he was punished. Our Lady, the Mother of God, likewise questioned the will of God, but in faith and through prayer – and she wasn't punished. The Annunciation truly is the great turning point in our history. We all question in our hearts as to the course of our lives.. all of us. Since Mary gave her Fiat (literally, let it be done), we too may question God's will for us in faith and through prayer and thereby come to an understanding of it. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This ought to say something about the place of prayer in a discerner's life. Cultivating a fruitful prayer life is absolutely essential if we are to discern God's will. If we want to better understand God's will for us, we must seek God out. How? There are so many prayers and so many ways of praying! The Church has always emphasised the centrality of the Eucharist as the prayer of the Universal Church. Without doubt, going to Mass regularly will prepare us for what the Lord wants. Dominicans hold the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary in high esteem. We pray it everyday - sometimes in common, often in private, as a means of devotion to the Virgin Mother of Jesus. Any discerner will want to ensure that devotion to the Blessed Virgin is something he can cultivate too. There are other, less structured, forms of prayer as well: Lectio divina is a popular way of praying with the Scriptures. For a list of Bible stories that focus on a figure's call by God, click here. Prayer during discernment can be aided by others who cooperate in God's will, perhaps unexpectedly on our part. For me, it was a parishioner who mentioned one day in conversation: "I could see you up there" (referring to the Sanctuary). Priesthood was in the back of my mind at that time, and did that bring it firmly to the fore where it's been since! Being open to the prompting of others is another good starting point. Another way that others can get involved in helping us to discern is in an accompaniment programme. Usually, this would be a regular meeting with a friar with whom we feel comfortable and may or may not befriend, though a confidential, free exchange is always expected. In this programme, there is room to move to ask questions about Dominican religious life, seek out the Lord's will for us, and knock on the door that will open the way. Accompaniment will help a discerner to see what it's like as a Dominican by a real experience with a living, breathing Dominican (there are almost 100 friars in the Province who would jump at the opportunity to help a discerner!) There are always obstacles - bear that in mind. These obstacles are often own self-imposed ones. And nasty things they can be too: we may feel fear or naivety, a feeling of unworthiness or even selfishness. These are best worn down by prayer and accompaniment, but also seeing and living the Dominican life during short visits to a Priory are a good remedy. These obstacles can often be based on misinformation and rumour. The truth will set you free! There are often telling signs of a priestly or religious vocation at various stages of our development: a strong desire to serve, an inclination towards that which is enduring, a thirst for a life of dedication to something greater than ourselves. People who recognise these and other signs in themselves do well to obtain advice from expierenced friars. We all come to an understanding of God's will for us, eventually; and that may take more time for some, less for others. We cannot all of us do this on our own; and we're not expected to. That's why we have the help of others, especially the saints, praying for us and with us. Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians and Queen of Preachers: pray for us! Br Paul Rowse, O.P. is a student for the Province of the Assumption. He has taught English to international students preparing for university and was a sacristan at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. Br Paul received the habit from the 85th successor of St Dominic, Fr Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P., on 14 June, 2003 and made first profession on 30 June, 2004.