The Real Victory!

Today, we Dominicans like many of the other major Orders celebrate the Feast of All Dominican Saints! We rejoice today for all those of our brothers and sisters who have lived this evangelical way of life in fidelity. Some we have known, many we haven’t!

Given that the Dominican Order is incredibly slow in moving causes of canonization, today is the feast day of the majority of brothers and sisters of the Order of Preachers! (And by the way, we have a big list of saints and blesseds, too!) In a way it is fitting since communio is such a strong part of our charism.

Sister Blogger had every intention to write a profound entry tying in the results of the presidential election with this feast (now aren't you curious!) but alas, it didn't happen!

So, bottom line of her magnum opus? Today's Gospel for this feast of All Dominican Saints was that of Jesus promising that those who left everything for his sake would have a hundred fold of mother and fathers, brothers and sisters, lands and PERSECUTION besides!

Our heavenly brothers and sisters remind us that no matter what happens the REAL VICTORY is already ours because we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ! We are, as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton used to remind her daughters, "Children of eternity!" Our home is heaven! And heaven is the vision of God who sees everything, even presidential elections, in a much different way than we can imagine!

Today at Mass the community sang the beautiful antiphon Gaudeamus for the entrance. For those of you familiar with chant you will notice that what we are singing is the Dominican version and it is quite different! Click on the player below to listen. (Does it show an old-fashioned record on your screen?) [cincopa A8PA8CL65U-_]

So far, we still have power although it has been snowing heavily and the wind has been gusting. We remember that many of our friends and neighbors have none or have lost entire homes on the shore. You are constantly in our prayers!