What a blessed and beautiful day this has been! Even the weather’s been perfect!
I’m a “full-grown” Lay Dominican now! :D
Here is me with our religious promoter Father Robinson, our vice-moderator Annette Butler, and our moderator Bill Malloy.
Note my small white scapular.
The profession occurred following the homily at Mass. It’s very simple, but quite beautiful. The vice-moderator presented me to the community. The moderator asked, “My sister, what do you request?” and I replied, “To make a commitment in the family of St. Dominic.”
The moderator then said:
Dear sister, by your own choice, you seek to make temporary commitment in the family of St Dominic. With us, you have shared all the rights, benefits, charisms, and responsibilities. Always remember that as a member of the Dominican Order, you participate in the apostolic mission of the Order through your constant prayer, study, and preaching according to the state of the laity. With God’s help, you must live with your mind and your heart the counsels in the Gospels, the Rule, and the Directory of our Dominican family.
Then I said:
To the honor of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and of St. Dominic, I, Heather Barrett, before you the Moderator of this chapter and Father Robinson the religious promoter, representing the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers, promise to live according to the Rule of the Dominican Laity for three years.
Father blessed the scapular, and the moderator placed it over my shoulders, saying:
My sister, receive this scapular. Always wear it and let it remind you to live the Dominican charism, to preach the message of Jesus’ love through your thoughts, words, deeds, and life.
Finally, Father said this blessing:
Father in Heaven, source of holiness and true purpose, together with our sister, we praise you. We dedicate her to you. May she be faithful in working with all the Dominican friars, nuns, sisters, and lay people in glorifying your Name. May she be the living gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
I like the phrase, “May she be the living gospel of our Lord…” It captures the spirit, and also the gravitas, of being a Dominican.
I’m so happy and excited! :D
16 comments
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17 May 2009 at 5:02 PM
Adoro
Congratulations! If I discover that God is not calling me to religious life, I’ll likely become a Lay Dominican (if they ever become orthodox in our area). Or…with others, we’ll start an orthodox chapter!
17 May 2009 at 5:05 PM
Practicing Catholic
Thank you, Adoro! I am so blessed to have a wonderful, orthodox Lay Dominican community. I shall keep you and your discernment in my prayers! God be with you.
17 May 2009 at 5:43 PM
Cynthia Edwards
Heather – I am very proud of the steps you have taken (even though we have never met!). God go with you on the journey.
Blessings,
Cynthia
19 May 2009 at 6:30 PM
Practicing Catholic
Thank you Cynthia. I look forward to seeing where the Lord takes me. I’m sure it will be exciting. God bless you on your own great and wonderful journey!
17 May 2009 at 7:50 PM
erica
congrats on your lay profession! i’ll be praying for you in this new aspect of your vocation! many blessings to you!
19 May 2009 at 6:29 PM
Practicing Catholic
Thank you, Erica! I’m sure I have lots of adventures ahead of me! :D
17 May 2009 at 10:15 PM
Kevin B.
Congratulations and God bless you!
19 May 2009 at 6:28 PM
Practicing Catholic
Thank you, Kevin! I hope you have a wonderful, blessed summer working with the youth! God be with you.
18 May 2009 at 4:13 AM
*fral*
congratulations on your profession to the Lay Dominican order! :-) carry on with the tradition of being a Dominican drunk with the wine of happiness ;-)
19 May 2009 at 6:27 PM
Practicing Catholic
Thank you, Father! I have the “wine of happiness” part down pat–it comes pretty naturally to me. :D
19 May 2009 at 1:32 PM
Robert Endorf
Congratulations. I just stumbled upon your web site and was intrigued by your making your profession as a Lay Dominican. I am considering entering our lay Dominican community as a postulant this August. Your obvious joy in becoming a Lay Dominican encourages me. My son has also encouraged me in this, since he is a novice brother this year in the St. Joseph Province.
19 May 2009 at 6:25 PM
Practicing Catholic
Mr. Endorf, thank you for your congratulations. I am very happy that you are considering joining the Lay Dominicans! It truly has brought me tremendous joy and peace. I knew from the moment I stepped into the priory that it was the right thing for me. I look forward to the journey ahead. God bless you–and your son too! I shall keep you both in my prayers.
19 May 2009 at 6:16 PM
Lexington
Congratulations! May you ever grow in God’s Love.
19 May 2009 at 6:31 PM
Practicing Catholic
Thanks, Lexington. I feel His love more every day. May you also!
20 May 2009 at 12:38 PM
Julie D.
CONGRATULATIONS!
13 June 2009 at 10:46 PM
Marl
“May she be the living gospel of our Lord…” Yes, that is a nice phrase indeed and one that should capture all Christians as we live our Christian and secular lives, not necessarily in an overzealous manner, rather one that plants seeds in others. And when looking within, should elicit action that examines the spirit in our souls.
That phrase also reminds me of the prayer said over deacons every year during their ordination:
“Receive the gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.
Believe what you read,
teach what you believe,
and practice what you teach”
Ever since I heard this prayer, it has really captured my mission on earth and has helped (yet is one of many that) has put things in perspective for me spiritually. You know how on tv they show sports players in the locker room or the hallway about to walk out to the court or the field before a game and there’s always some motivational or inspirational sign or banner right before they walk that defines the team’s beliefs. Well this is mine. I make it a part of my prayer. I love each and every word of it, and said together, it’s simply moving.
I congratulate you and of course pray for you.