November 2013 Dear Friends,

As we remember the communion of saints and prepare to conclude the Year of Faith this month, we ask the Lord to bless us on our own pilgrimage of faith through the example and intercession of those who have gone before us.

In Christ, The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia

801 Dominican Drive Nashville, TN 37228

www.nashvilledominican.org vocation@op-tn.org

“Faith is born of an encounter with the living

God who calls us and reveals his love, a love which precedes us and

upon which we can lean for security and for building our lives.

Transformed by this love, we gain fresh vision,

new eyes to see; we realize that it

contains a great promise of fulfillment,

and that a vision of the future opens up before us. Faith, received from God

as a supernatural gift, becomes a light for our

way, guiding our journey through time.”

Lumen Fidei #4

Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia

LAUDARE, BENEDICERE, PRAEDICARE “TO PRAISE, TO BLESS, TO PREACH”

While on his quest to destroy the Enemy’s ring of power, Frodo Baggins is given a small vial, containing the light of a star. He is told that this star—Eärendil—will be a light for him in dark places, even when all other lights go out. Later, when Frodo’s story is indeed very dark and difficult, he and his friend Sam begin discussing the old heroes of legend. Sam stops and exclaims in wonder, “Why, we’re part of the same story! Don’t the old tales ever end?”

Ever since first reading The Lord of the Rings, I have been enthralled by the adventurous tale. Over the years, though, I have also come to appreciate its deeper symbolism. As Christians, we, too, are part of an on-going story, and it is important to remember this, especially here at the end of the Year of Faith. In his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis describes faith as a bright light. This light of faith connects us with the past and brings us into the drama of salvation history. The sacred story unfolded in Scripture continues to play out today in our lives, and we are among the main characters. In order to see our place in this story, however, we must remember the wonders of the Lord—how He has worked both throughout history and in within the drama of our own lives. Pope Francis speaks of how modern philosophy ctiticizes Christianity for “stripping life of novelty and adventure,” but it is Christians who are on the true adventure! Think of all the dangers and trials braved by the martyrs, as well as by modern saints like Blessed John Paul II. Think of the countless persons whom we all know who daily seek—even struggle—to be certain that their desires and choices are consistently guided and formed by their Faith. Without faith, we remain trapped in fear, in skepticism or in boredom.

Proclaimed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Year of Faith ends this month on the feast of Christ the King, and what a beautiful and fitting climax for this year of grace, as we celebrate the victorious One we love, the One toward whom our faith reaches out. The end of this Year of Faith does not mean, however, that we put our faith back up on a shelf. In the ordinariness of everyday living we can forget that there is actually a cosmic battle raging around us, with the eternal destiny of our souls at stake. A faith that only comes out for an hour on Sundays is like a rusty sword in the midst of this battle. Faith needs to be alive! Faith is the light that leads us through the darkness on our earthly pilgrimage. It gives us hope that we, like Frodo and—more importantly—like the saints who have gone before, will come safely to our journey’s end.

“This light of faith connects us with the past and brings

us into the drama of salvation history.”

Novice Reflection

Recommended Reading

Click above to order

Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell

Through her penetrating use of statistics and through engaging stories from her experience in personal research, Sherry Weddell leads her readers on the path toward intentional discipleship. Among other topics, she explores the way to perceive particular stages of conversion; finding an opening to begin a conversation about the Faith; and discussing personal relationship with Christ in a context of mutual respect and trust.

“We must be convinced that all the baptized … will eventually be called to make a personal choice

to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the midst

of his Church.”

“We come to see that faith does not dwell in shadow and gloom; it is a light for our darkness. Dante, in the Divine Comedy, after professing his faith to Saint Peter, describes that light as a ‘spark, which then becomes a burning flame and like a heavenly star within me glimmers’ (Paradiso XXIV, 145-147). It is this light of faith that I would now like to consider, so that it can grow and enlighten the present, becoming a star to brighten the horizon of our

journey at a time when mankind is particularly in need of light.”

Lumen Fidei #4

“…the love that moves the sun and the other stars.” Paradiso, Canto XXXIII

The Divine Comedy

To order audio lectures by Anthony Esolen on the Inferno,

Purgatorio and Paradiso, click the icons to the right:

Inferno Purgatorio Paradiso

Holiness Highlight

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DANIEL the PROPHET “Let my Lord speak, for you have

strengthened me.” (Dan 10:19b)

Biblical Figure: taken to Babylon in 606 BC as advisor to the king

Liturgical Association: Readings from the Book of Daniel are associated with the feast of Christ the King.

Name: means “God is my Judge”

Known for: his steadfast faith in the midst of unbelievers; his prophetic visions and wise judgments; his defense of the falsely accused Susanna

How to imitate this figure: pray for the strength to proclaim and bear witness to the Faith in daily life, even at the risk of criticism and unpopularity

“As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of

man coming, on the clouds of heaven. When He reached the

Ancient One and was presented before Him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and

peoples of every language serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting

dominion that shall not be taken away; his kingship shall not be

destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

On

Vigil of All Saints Blessed John XXIII

Blessed Mother

Teresa of Calcutta

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

The celebration of the Vigil of All Saints held at the St. Cecilia

Motherhouse on the evening of October 31 included reflections

by 20th century Saints and Blesseds; a meditation by

Aquinas College chaplain, Father Kevin McGoldrick; praying of the

Litany of Saints; veneration of relics; and the opportunity for the

Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“If you have God as the center of all your action,

then you will reach the goal.”

“If you judge

people, you have

no time to love them.”

“Whatever God

wants.”

“Every believer in this world of ours must be a spark of light, a center of love,

a vivifying leaven amidst his fellow men.”

Though inclement weather shortened the prayer service, guests were still able to enjoy treats on their way home.