Blessed Virgin Mary
God Never Lets Us Go
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.
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The Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday
“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.
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A Dominican Mother’s Day Poem
May 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 …
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Alma Redemptoris Mater
“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 …
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Blessed Reginald Receiving Scapular
The 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. …
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Salve Regina
The 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.
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Blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb
The 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 …
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St. Dominic Receiving Rosary
The 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 …
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Mary, the Mother of God
The 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 …
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Immaculate Conception Basilica
“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 …
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