Matthew

The Blessed Virgin Mary leads us Godward through her shining example and powerful intercession. As Dominican Friars we lead others to Mary, so that she can show us all the Way—her son, Jesus Christ.

A little slice of heaven is how one pilgrim described this year’s Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage—a day-long gathering of more than 3,000 pilgrims with the Dominican Friars and the Blessed Mother at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

It was a Marian summer for The Hillbilly Thomists, a band of eight Dominican friars, who spent much of their summer touring with their new album Marigold, whose title song is an homage to the Blessed Mother.

If you travel about 100 miles northeast of New York City, you might stumble across the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of Grace in North Guilford, Connecticut. These Dominican nuns have been praying there since 1947. What many people don’t know is that the nuns of the Dominican Order are a vital part of the success of preaching for the salvation of souls.

On this second Sunday of Advent, we hear in the gospel that St. John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance in order to fulfill what the prophet Isaiah wrote “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”

In this first half of the season of Advent, the Church contemplates the second coming of Christ. In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus depicts what his second coming will be like saying, “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

We are blessed to have over 50 young men in formation and we ask for your prayers—that these men persevere in their path to the priesthood.

When we bow before the Presence of God in himself and in others, the divine glory shines through us to those around us. We discover that to serve is to reign and to be humble is to be a king.

The Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage, is an annual national pilgrimage celebrating the Rosary at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

The Church celebrates with great joy the Solemnity of All Saints, but one day later, there’s a drastic change. Instead of white vestments, black or purple vestments are worn. Instead of the joy that we are reminded of from the lives of the saints, we are reminded of those we have lost. Instead of seeing the joy that comes from heaven, we are reminded of the pain that comes from the fall of Adam.

In this month of November the Church celebrates all those courageous men and women who have gone before us in this life and have come to their eternal reward. That reward is living in the presence of God in heaven.

The Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage, is an annual national pilgrimage celebrating the Rosary at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.