On May 23rd, 2008, I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ. I like to think that my Nana—my Irish grandmother—is having a great laugh right now. She always hoped that I would become a priest.
Read More“Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give.” — The opening verse of the great Sequence hymn for Pentecost, “Veni Sancte Spiritus.” Photo & Description: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. Stained Glass Window from St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville, KY.
Read MoreMay Mary guard you, Mother Dear, And ease your pain and sorrow; Beneath Her care you need not fear Life’s threatening tomorrow! That is my wish as this, your day, One milestone passed, reminds us How far along the homeward way Each year, in fleeting, finds us. And so I greet you, o’er Read more…
Read More“O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more. Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond’ring, Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel’s lips that joyful “Hail!”: be merciful to us sinners.” – Marian antiphon sung Read more…
Read MoreThe following reflection is part of an ongoing series about the life of St. Dominic & the Order of Friars Preachers. Reginald of Orleans (1180 – 1220), a doctor of laws, was a prominent public figure and distinguished scholar before becoming a Dominican, having held the chair of canon law at the University of Paris. Read more…
Read MoreThe Salve Regina (“Hail, Holy Queen”) is sung every evening by Dominicans. According to tradition, the Blessed Mother prays for the security of the whole Order as Dominicans sing, “Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us.” Photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. St. Dominic’s Church, Washington, D.C.
Read MoreThe following exegesis on the “Hail Mary,” was written by the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas. The sinner sometimes seeks in a thing what cannot be attained there, but the just man attains it. Proverbs 13:22: “the substance of the sinner is kept for the just.” Thus Eve sought in the fruit and did not Read more…
Read MoreThe following reflection is part of an ongoing series about the life of St. Dominic & the Order of Friars Preachers. The form of the rosary today is believed to have been shaped and organized by Dominic, although the use of beads in prayer is much older than he and is not necessarily Christian; the Read more…
Read MoreThe following is an excerpt from Br. Gabriel Torretta, O.P.’s article, “Did the Virgin Mary Tickle the Baby Jesus?” . When you picture Mary holding the Christ-child, what do you imagine her doing? Gazing into his eyes? Nursing him? Just holding him close? Thanks to the new Picturing Mary exhibit at D.C.’s National Museum of Read more…
Read More“Let the children of the Catholic Church fly with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers, difficulties, needs, doubts and fears. Under her guidance, under her patronage, under her kindness and protection, nothing is to be feared; nothing is hopeless. Because, while bearing toward us a truly motherly Read more…
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