Table Of Content

VOLUME 19, 2000 J •lil. • .'/;] :* 1' -:•i"fflob 'Ki;.'-- •%*'' ; • •::>;'i*:-' 'IfIII! ^ «if. iilH' :j- 6O02tt2lQt2 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from CARLI: Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois http://archive.org/details/dominicanmonasti19unse OoonrprcAD moPASCfc seARcl^ Volume 19 2000 DOMINICAN MONASTIC SEARCH Volume 19 2000 ISSN 1527-263X Dominican Monastic Search is published by the Conference of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers of the United States of America., The Conference is an organization of independent monasteries whose purpose is to foster the monastic contemplative life ofthe nuns in the spirit of Saint Dominic. PRESIDENT Sr. Miriam, O.P. (Elmira) EDITORIAL BOARD Sr. Mary Dominic, O.P. (Elmira), Coordinator Sr. Susan Early, O.P. (North Guilford) Sr. Mary ofthe Savior, O.P. (Farmington Hills) BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Sr. Mary Catharine, O.P. (Summit) Dominican Monastic Search is a spiritual and theological review written by the nuns. Its purpose is to foster the Dominican monastic contemplative life by the sharing of insights gained from study and prayer. It is published once a year as a service to the nuns ofthe Conference. It is also available to the wider Dominican Family and others upon request. A donation of $8.00 to aid in the cost of printing would be appreciated, when possible, from non-Conference members. Dominican Monastic Search welcomes all its readers to contribute articles for publication. We ask that manuscripts be prepared with concern for literary and intellectual quality. Appropriate subjects include scripture, theology, philosophy, spirituality, Dominican life, and the liberal arts insofar as they contribute to our Dominican vocation. Serious poetry reflective ofthese categories may also be submitted, though only a small amount can be used. A theme for each issue of DMS is usuallyannounced in advance, but is not intended to limitthe scopeofarticles. Beforesubmitting a manuscript, please refer to the page of guidelines at the end of the most recent issue of Dominican Monastic Search. Articles for publication and general correspondence should be sent to Sr. Judith Miryam, O.P., Monastery of Our Lady ofthe Rosary, 543 Springfield Ave, Summit, NJ 07901-4498. E-mail: iudithmirvam(S>att.net Donations and additions/changes forthe mailing list should be sent to Sr. Mary Catharine, O.P., Monastery ofOur Lady ofthe Rosary, 543 Springfield Ave, Summit, NJ 07901-4498. Make checks payable to Conference of Dominican Nuns . CONFERENCE OF NUNS OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA All Rights Reserved ^y. /f*v /#^*\ ^ \j^>^ \^-'J^/ TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial 1 I Papers Presented at the Fourth General Assembly ofthe Conference of Nuns ofthe Order of Preachers in the U.S.A. Mary Immaculate Center, Northampton, PA, September 15-22, 2000 The Mystery of Divine Communion and the Dominican Monastic Life Fr. Augustine DiNoia, O.P 3 Religious Observances and Transformation Fr. John Corbett, O.P 17 Dominican Monastic Observance as Christological and Sacramental in Character Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell, O.P 24 Dominican Monastic Observance in the Contemporary Context Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell, O.P .30 The Observances of Silence and Enclosure Sr. Claire, O.P. (North Guilford) 36 Verbi Sponsa and Dominican Monastic Life Fr. Reginald Whitt, O.P 47 Common Life in the Dominican Tradition: An Enduring Observance in the Unity ofthe Triune God Sr. Denise Marie, O.P. (Summit) 62 Study Is a Prayer to Truth: Jesus, pure Truth, teach us the Truth Sr. Mary ofJesus, O.P. (Bronx) 72 • • •• END OFASSEMBLY PAPERS ••• • II Praying with a Picture [Coronation ofthe Virgin, Fra Angelico] Sr. Mary ofthe Trinity, O.P. (Farmington Hills) 89 Beauty, Contemplation and the Virgin Mary Sr. Thomas Mary, O.P. (North Guilford) 92 At the Wellspring ofTrinitarian Communion: Footnote to Verbi Sponsa Sr. Maria Agnes, O.P. (Summit) 96 A Reflection on Memory and Contemplation Sr. Mary ofthe Trinity, O.P. (Farmington Hills) 101 The Father in Paul's Letter to the Romans Sr. Mary Vincent, O.P. (Farmington Hills) 104 Homily on Magdalen by Origen Tr. by Sr. Mary Regina, O.P. (West Springfield) 111 Commentary on the Constitutions ofthe Nuns ofthe Order of Preachers: Part Three Sr. Marie Ancilla, O.P. (Lourdes, France), Tr. by Sr. Mary Thomas, O.P. (Buffalo) ..118 BOOK REVIEWS Sisters in Crisis by Ann Carey Sr. Mary Thomas, O.P. (Buffalo) 144 Sisters in Arms: Catholic Nuns Through Two Millennia by Jo Ann Kay McNamara Sr. Mary Thomas, O.P. (Buffalo) 145 Witness to Hope: the Biography ofJohn Paul II by George Weigel Sr. Mary of Christ, O.P. (Los Angeles) 147 POETRY — The Seed was the Word of God Sr. Mary of Christ, O.P. (Los Angeles) 103 — Advent Compline Sr. Mary Catharine, O.P. (Summit) 117 List of Member Monasteries 149 Contact Persons 150 Guidelines for Contributors 151 ART CREDITS Cover Design and pages 61, 86: Sr. Corde Maria, O.P. (North Guilford) Frontispiece and page 14: Sr. Catherine Mary, O.P. (Farmington Hills) Page 88: Coronation ofthe Virgin, Fresco by Fra Angelico EDITORIAL This volume of Dominican Monastic Search features the talks from Assembly 2000, a gathering doubly historic for having taken place in both the great Jubilee year, and the 25th Anniversary Year of the inauguration of the Conference of Nuns of the Order of Friars Preachers of the USA. This Assembly most appropriately drew its theme: "Dwelling in the Inmost Life of God," from Pope John Paul's Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente. Our vocation as Dominican Nuns calls usto directthewhole ofour livesto realizing the mystery ofdivine communion opened to us by the event ofthe Incarnation of the Son of God which this Jubilee celebrates. Each presentationfromtheAssemblyreflectstheologicallyon someaspectoftraditional Dominican Observance, seeking clearerperspectives and expressionsforhowto strive toward this goal of communion with the Trinity as we move forward into the Third Millennium. I found it curiouslygraced howthe other papers submitted proved so complementaryto the reflections from the Assembly. In Part II ofthis issue we see Mary as ever with us on this journey, both as beauty attracting our contemplation, and as a gracious guide familiar with the way, because she has walked it before us unto its end in glory. Our eager longing for this goal keeps it in view and like a wellspring from which we drink, invigorates our daily efforts. By our very creation God has placed a "primal memory" within us, to sustain ourdesire. Forthe Father loved us so much asto empoweruswith hope that we shall dwell in him, just by calling us into being. Ifwe experience a sense of loss for a time, as Magdalen did after the crucifixion of her beloved Jesus, it is only that we may see him again, and even more clearly. With this issue we also bring to completion ourthree-part series ofthe Commentary on the Constitutions. DMS itself is passing milestone, as Sr. Judith Miryam (Summit, NJ) has accepted the We editorship for the coming term. have confidence that, well supported by your interest and cooperation, she will continue to make ourjournal one of quality, interest and value forour Dominican contemplative and monastic life, and that her"tourofduty" will be as rewarding as mine has been. Sr. Mary Dominic, O.P. NY Elmira, Editor