"Our Order is celebrating 800 years from the death of the founder, St. Dominic, this year. Over these 800 years our Dominican Order has produced scientists, doctors and nurses, politicians, warriors, artists, social reformers, and Nobel Prize winners."

"During this year of 2021, we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of St. Dominic’s entry into Heaven. For Dominicans, this is a Jubilee year. On May 24th, the feast of the translation of St. Dominic, Pope Francis sent a letter to all members of the Order (see separately in this newsletter). In that letter, he succinctly reminded us of our mission, highlighting three aspects[...]"

Mrs. Helen Nguyen O.P.

"God’s plan is perfect and we have been surrendering and resting in that. But would I do this all over again, absolutely. Because through it all – it has made me believe stronger than ever, in the power of prayer, of saintly intercessions, and the important role in which St. Joseph plays in our spiritual lives."

"This accommodation brings up the possibility of admitting new members, who are geographically distant, to participate virtually. Our recent experience with the pandemic, has given us the format to be able to do this. A few chapters have already begun this practice. If a chapter is willing to consider this idea, there are a couple of aspects to keep in mind."

Peter of Verona (1205 – 52) was the first canonized martyr of the Dominican Order. Born in Verona, Italy, of parents who had embraced the heresy of Cartharism, he was educated at the University of Bologna and was accepted into the Dominican Order by Dominic himself.

Via: Dominican Friars Foundation

"One of the most famous openings to literature is this: Happy families are all alike; unhappy families are unhappy in their own way. This opening by Leo Tolstoy of his novel Anna Karenina he goes on to debunk. But he uses the example of an unhappy marriage. But in the happy marriage of Élisabeth and Félix Leseur we see that nothing is as it seems on the surface and that unhappiness and happiness both have deep undercurrents."

Via: Fr. Augustine Hilander, O.P.

"During her university years, Edith Stein (now St Theresa Benedicta of the Cross) held a strongly pro-feminist view of femininity, and as a professional woman she appreciated the gains made for women who wished to enter fields dominated by men."

Via: Catholic Education Resource Center

"Pillars and spores are images used by Edith Stein (1891-1942) in one of her essays on women. The woman who becomes or is becoming what she is meant to be, Stein explains, is like a pillar to which many fasten themselves, thereby attaining a firm footing."

Via: Catholic Education Resource Center

"Fr. Luke Clark, O.P., was recently named chief exorcist of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, by Archbishop Wilton Cardinal Gregory. He is also cofounder of the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal (catholicexorcism.org), a Catholic organization that trains clergy, religious, and laity on spiritual deliverance."

Via: Dominican Friars Foundation

"[...]Of course, in one sense, I understand the problem. An altogether standard objection to belief in God is human suffering, especially when it is visited upon the innocent. The apologist for atheism or naturalism quite readily asks the believer, 'How could you possibly assert the existence of a loving God given the Holocaust, school shootings, tsunamis that kill hundreds of thousands of people, pandemics, etc.?'”

Via: Word on Fire

"Friends, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. There is nothing more important. Therefore, I want to encourage everyone—for whomever it’s possible and safe to do so—to go back to Mass."

Via: Word on Fire

"Among the titles attributed to Saint Dominic, that of “Preacher of Grace” stands out for its consonance with the charism and mission of the Order he founded. In this year that marks the eight hundredth anniversary of Saint Dominic's death, I gladly join the Friars Preachers in giving thanks for the spiritual fruitfulness of that charism and mission, seen in the rich variety of the Dominican family as it has grown over the centuries."

"A new pro-life campaign in Poland is highlighting the dignity of children diagnosed with medical conditions before birth.

The campaign, launched by the Foundation Proelio Group and known as “Every Life Is a Miracle,” tells the stories of children born with disabilities, in many cases after doctors advised their mothers to consider abortions."

Via: Catholic News Agency

"For over 20 years, the Dominican Friars have partnered with the Sisters of Life in ministering to women vulnerable to abortion, or who have given birth in the midst of crisis situations."

Via: Dominican Friars Foundation

"As a senator, Biden supported the Hyde Amendment, which bans use of federal funds for abortion. Abortion opponents claim he’s bowing to political pressure."

Via: Deseret News

"[...]During his mission there was an epidemic of Leprosy. The Hawaiian government thought it was an incurable disease and decided to quarantine anyone infected by deporting them to the neighboring island of Molokai. During the whole mission [St. Damien] worried about the abandoned lepers."

Via: My Catholic Kitchen.