Why Christmas is December 25th
The near universal celebration of Christmas on December 25 dates to the early fourth century. It is commonly said that this date was chosen to…
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Praying for the Dead
For years Hollywood has portrayed purgatory as something it is not. Instead of presenting it as a process of purification before heaven, movies…
The Power of the Rosary
The Blessed Virgin Mary plays an important role in salvation history. She gave birth to the Savior of the world, and because she was so closely…
Lift High The Cross
The sign of the cross has been a part of the Church’s tradition for nearly 2000 years. Constantly depicted in film and art, it has become one…
The Death of Saint Dominic
Saint Dominic de Guzman died on August 6 in 1221, after arriving at the convent of San Niccolò nelle Vigne, sick with a fever. After making his…
3 Tips for a Virtuous Vacation
Taking a vacation during the summer holidays can be difficult. Long lines at the airport and more cars on the road are often a cause of frustration.…
Christ is our Cornerstone
The Priory of Saint Albert the Great, the Western Dominican Province's House of Studies, has a history unlike any other. The Priory sits…
Solemn Vows: A Commitment of Service Until Death
Priestly ordination is often seen as the climax of one's life as a Dominican friar. But actually it's the profession of solemn vows which unites…
Why Are the Statues Covered?
Beginning on the fifth Sunday of Lent (formerly known as Judica Sunday after the first words of the introit “Judge me, O Lord”) and throughout…
Surprising Discoveries - The Southern Tour
Every year the novices of the Province visit each of our communities (except the one in Alaska, due to time and resources). These visits are…
How Do Dominicans Elect Their Leaders?
As itinerant preachers, Dominicans are constantly on the go, traveling from place to place in order to proclaim the Gospel for the salvation…
Carnival: Feast Before the Fast
Lent is just around the corner, and as we all know, fasting for 40 days is not easy. In order to make the most out of this holy season, one needs…
Be A Preacher of Mercy
“We are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us,” Pope Francis proclaims in Misericordiae Vultus. As we continue our celebration…
The Real Saint Nicholas
Nicholas was born in the village of Patara, on the southern coast of present-day Turkey, towards the end of the third century. When he was a…
New Habits
On September 3, my five brothers and I were welcomed into a year of discernment with the Order of Preachers as we received the Dominican habit…
Our Lady of the Rosary
For centuries the Church has taught that the rosary is a powerful prayer.Saint Dominic learned this truth almost 800 years ago, when the Blessed…
Mater Dolorosa
Michelangelo’s Pietà is probably one of the most famous portrayals of the Virgin Mary known to mankind. Every year millions of tourists, Catholic…
Work and Dignity
While most Americans think of the first Monday in September as the last day of summer vacation, Labor Day (as the name suggests) is more about…
Take the Novice Prayer Pledge
On Thursday, September 3rd at 7:30pm, in a beautiful ceremony called Vestition, the six young men below will join the Dominicans; receiving the…
The Traveling Philosopher
Earlier this summer, Fr. Michael Dodds, O.P., one of our professors at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT) in Berkeley, was…
Go Forth In the Face of Adversity
In December of 1216, Pope Honorius III approved Dominic de Guzman’s plan for an order of contemplative preachers.Tradition holds that shortly…
The Law of Liberty
Although William of Ockham once spoke of freedom as the absence of restrictions, the Catholic Church has always thought of freedom as something…
May is Mary's Month
Bring flowers of the rarest, bring blossoms the fairest...The month of May is full of devotions in honor of the Virgin Mary. In Catholic schools…
4 Tips for a Better Lent
Life as a Dominican is rooted in four areas, what we typically call the four pillars: prayer, study, common life, and ministry. Based on these…
Why St. Thomas Aquinas Matters
Despite the incredible connections available to us through roads, language, and the internet, we live in times of great confusion. Modern men…
The Blessing of Catholic Schools
I stand on the sidewalk in front of St. Dominic Parish School in Eagle Rock to greet the happy children popping out of cars as their parents…