Advice or discipleship?

Now that the church has a new vicar of Christ, she is garnering much (unasked-for) advice on what she must do to survive... St. Augustine commented on this very thing 1500+ years ago...

St. Augustine of Hippo Expositions on the Psalms
PSALM XXXV.

Let them not go before, but follow; let them not give counsel, but take it. For Peter would go before the Lord, when the Lord spake of His future Passion: he would to Him as it were give counsel for His health. The sick man to the Saviour give counsel for His health! And what said he to the Lord, affirming that His future Passion? "Be it far from Thee, Lord. Be gracious to Thyself. This shall not be to Thee." He would go before that the Lord might follow; and what said He? "Get thee behind Me, Satan." By going before thou art Satan, by following thou wilt be a disciple. The same then is said to these also, "Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that think evil against me." For when they have begun to follow after, now they will not think evil against me, but desire my good.

On Prayer - the door swings both ways

St. Augustine of Hippo
Expositions on the Psalms
PSALM CXLII

2. "I will pour out before Him my prayer" (ver. 2). What is, "before Him"? In His sight. What is, in His sight? Where He seeth. But where doth He not see? For so do we say, 'where He seeth,' as though somewhere He seeth not. But in this assemblage of bodily substances men too see, animals too see: He seeth where man seeth not.

For thy thoughts no man seeth, but God seeth. There then pour out thy prayer, where He alone seeth, who rewardeth. For the Lord Jesus Christ bade thee pray in secret: but if thou knowest what "thy closet" is, and cleansest it, there thou prayest to God. "But thou," saith He, "when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut the door, and pray to thy Father in secret, and He who seeth in secret shall reward thee." If men are to reward thee, pour out thy prayer before men: if God is to reward thee, pour out thy prayer before Him; and close the door, lest the tempter enter. Therefore the Apostle, because it is in our power to shut the door, the door of our hearts, not of our walls, for in it is our "closet,"--because it is in our power to shut this door, saith, "neither give place to the devil." But what is to "shut the door"? This door hath as it were two leaves, desire and fear. Either thou desireth something earthly, and he enters by this; or thou fearest something earthly, and he enters by that. Close then the door of fear and desire against the devil, open it to Christ. How dost thou open these folding doors to Christ? By desiring the kingdom of heaven, by fearing the fire of hell. By desire of this world the devil entereth, by desire of eternal life Christ entereth; by fear of temporal punishment the devil entereth, by fear of everlasting fire Christ entereth . .
. .

Music found!

A small thing, but a delight none the less!

The Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer, Friday, Week 2 and Week 4, opens with the song

Father We Thank Thee
L. Bourgeois, 1543
From the Didache (110)
Tr. F. Bland Tucker

Considering the antiquity of the Didache (as in 110 AD), and the music it is set to is over 450 years old, I've long desired to find the music to this piece. Finally found it in: The People's Hymnal (yes, it has a red cover).

the music is here.

Third Order newsletter from Province of St. Joseph

eLumen is the Third Order newsletter of the Province of St. Joseph. Read the April edition here, then consider subscribing!

April Chapter meeting

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Monthly Meeting, 11:30 a.m. Mass; 1:00 p.m., St. John’s Cathedral, Rosary, Chapel (downstairs in Cathedral); potluck, St. John’s Center (across the street from Cathedral); meeting 2:00 p.m.
Subject: Prayer: Please see last months adgenda. We will continue the discussion on prayer.

Idaho Dominicana, Vol. IV, No. 6

Carmelites are now meeting monthly in Boise

The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites is now meeting monthly in Boise. Meetings are at St. Marks, after morning mass, second Saturday of each month. Visitors are welcome.

I have a great fondness for the Carmelites, inspired by the writings of Teresa of Avila who was instrumental in my conversion to the faith. Before this chapter was founded, I made the observation that the Dominican Third Order was also contemplative. As it is often put, we are to share the fruits of contemplation for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. We are contemplative, just noisy contemplatives!

Bl. Margaret's feast day activities

April 13 is Blessed Margaret's feast day! All are invited to participate in sung vespers with the St. John's Cathedral Chancel Choir at 6PM. Our own Gayle Boyer will be on the organ, and yours truly will be hiding in the back row singing with the tenors.

Bl. Margaret is the (unofficial) patroness of the marginalized, and somehow she seems a good patroness for a choir that desires to sing the music which is the "treasure of the Catholic Church."

Dig a little deeper:
Actions of the Holy See on Liturgy and Sacred Music - 1903-1974
Why Don't Catholics Sing?

Welcome to the Idaho Lay Dominicans Blog

This is something new we will try out for getting information out to chapter members. Have patience with me as I learn!