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St. Dominic's Priory is
delighted to announce the Novice Class of 2005. These
two men have come from
various walks of life, but both have sought to live and serve the Lord in the tradition of
St. Dominic De Guzman. Please pray for them as they spend one year dedicated to
deeper prayer as they learn to live the Dominican life.
"Why did the Magi set off from afar to go to Bethlehem? The answer has to do
with the mystery of the "star" which they saw "in the East" and which they recognized as the star of the
"King of the Jews," that is to say, the sign of the birth of the Messiah (cf. Matthew 2:2). So their
journey was inspired by a powerful hope, strengthened and guided by the star, which led them toward the
King of the Jews, toward the kingship of God himself. The Magi set out because of a deep desire which
prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for
that star. It was as if the journey had always been a part of their destiny, and was finally about to
begin. Dear friends, this is the mystery of God's call, the mystery of
vocation. It is part of the life of every Christian, but it is particularly evident in those whom Christ
asks to leave everything in order to follow him more closely. The seminarian experiences the beauty of
that call in a moment of grace which could be defined as "falling in love." His soul is filled with
amazement, which makes him ask in prayer: "Lord, why me?" But love knows no "why"; it is a free gift to
which one responds with the gift of self....
The secret of holiness is friendship with Christ and faithful obedience to his
will. Saint Ambrose said: "Christ is everything for us"; and Saint Benedict warned against putting
anything before the love of Christ. May Christ be everything for you. Dear seminarians, be the first to
offer him what is most precious to you, as Pope John Paul II suggested in his Message for this World Youth
Day: the gold of your freedom, the incense of your ardent prayer, the myrrh of your most profound
affection (cf. No. 4). "
Pope Benedict XVI
Excerpt from: Pope’s Homily to
Seminarians
Cologne, Germany, AUG. 19, 2005 |
Br. Ambrose Erich
Sigman
Our Lady of Las Vegas Parish
Las Vegas, NV
Br. Dominic David Maichrowicz
St. Luke Parish
Temple City, CA |
