I learned or reviewed lessons I hadn't thought about in years. It was good for me. The Chapter was discussing Dominican Spirituality. This is hard to pin down because St. Dominic didn't write very much at all. He left no manual or way of life like St. Ignatius, or writings like St. Francis. Dominicans have no system of spiritual exercises, nevertheless, all forms of prayers are found. The spirituality is grounded in scriptures. Liturgical prayers mark our day, but not intense as strict contemplatives. Our Divine Office prayers should be brisk and light because we need to move out to preach. Preaching is what Dominicans do. We preach in many ways to which we are suited by temperament and opportunity. All of us preach with our lives, by how we treat people, and by how well we radiate hope to the world, or our little part of the world, because the whole point of the Scriptures is summed up in hope. IOW, Dominican spirituality is life in the Holy Spirit.
My talk about Pere Lataste touched upon his emphasis of Dominican Spirituality. Lataste spirituality is very, very Christian. It works towards redemption. It believes that everyone can be redeemed. It's very Catholic because once you are sorry and asked for forgiveness, you are just as worthy as anybody. You are absolved. It offers hope for everyone. Every person has dignity because they are a reflection of God.
I know this is an abstract concept that all Christians believe, but Father Lataste lived it. He founded the Dominican Sisters of Bethany to work with prisoners. Not every Christian will do this. Will you give a job to a pedophile?
See?
I'd like to give a special thanks to Mrs. Judi Navetta, O.P. for treating us to dinner. It was a generous, thoughtful and much appreciated gesture. May God bless you, Judi, in your discernment.
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