In the vibrant life of the Catholic Church, there are many ways toward holiness. Throughout the two millennia since Christ, the Holy Spirit has raised up a multiplicity of different spiritualities to aid laity, religious, and priests in sanctity. Some of the faithful in our own age are called to mature the manner in which they live their faith by joining any of the wonderful new lay movements that have been founded in the 20th and 21st centuries. But the laity who are called to a vocation in the Dominican Order inherit a centuries-old tradition that has remained remarkably intact since 1285, when the Fraternities of St. Dominic was formalized.
In the spiritual life, St. Dominic stripped away all superfluity and focused on "the basics." Everything that he incorporated into his zealous plan of formation for his brethren has a purpose and is meant to be lived in a balanced way. Many find Dominican life appealing because of this very emphasis on spiritual balance.
A Dominican's day revolves prayerfully around Christ: Christ truly present in the Eucharist at Mass, Christ present in the Word both at Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours, and Christ present in the rosary. Daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the rosary are the staples of the Dominican journey of faith. Prayerfully engaging in these activities sanctifies each moment of every day and prepares the Dominican for the work and evangelization to which he is called in the world. St. Dominic himself animated this balance in his own life: he always prayed first-and kept communion with God throughout his day-and then went out to his work in the world.
Dominican spirituality gives special attention to penance. One should note that Munio de Zamora, the Dominican Master General who in 1285 laid out the rule of life for the laity interested in living the Dominican charism, initially named the Third Order "the Third Order of Penance of St. Dominic." This emphasis on penance should not intimidate us. Instead, Dominican spirituality calls us to examine the state of our hearts and our constant need for conversion and paring away earthly things. The fundamental purpose of the Dominican life is the sanctification of the laity who choose to be obedient to the charism and rule put forth by St. Dominic (which is the Rule of St. Augustine). Penance, then, is a basic part of a person's spiritual journey in the spirit of St. Dominic.
How does a Dominican tertiary live penitentially? Lay Dominicans participate boldly and actively in the world, just as St. Dominic did, but they try to avoid living in a worldly way. Like St. Dominic, lay Dominicans long to practice their faith to such a degree that their witness is a steady beacon to the world. Lay Dominicans strive to make choices in their daily lives-in what they wear, buy, say, and do-that support their desire for authentic Christian witness. With their balanced view toward material goods, Dominicans use and respect the gifts of this earth but try not to allow material things to distract them from oneness with Christ. A healthy spirit of detachment from material goods is the key to balance in this area of a tertiary's life. In a world full of abundant choices, the lay Dominican focuses on making a constant, daily decision for Christ and His program of life.
The hallmark of Dominican spirituality is preaching, a point that is made obvious to us in the fact that St. Dominic founded The Order of Preachers (O.P.). St. Dominic oriented everything he did toward authentically imitating Christ. He knew in his own age, which was wrought with heresy, that only a well-educated person who lives humbly, charitably, and uprightly could best transmit the life of Christ to the world. Therefore, his placement of prayer first in his life, his poverty and austerity, his insistence on study and thorough education, his emphasis on community life and charity all have a purpose: everything that a Dominican does must prepare his soul for preaching well the truth of Christ to the world.
It is not just the world that benefits from a well-formed Dominican's spirituality. Every element that St. Dominic incorporated into the founding of his Order personally benefits the souls of its members by refining and bettering them. Prayer purifies the soul and enables a person to know and to see God. Study strengthens and guides the soul in truth. Living in community humbles the soul and teaches charity and compassion to the members of the community. Practicing apostolic work in the world challenges and fulfills the soul. To live the Dominican charism fully is to strike a balance-something that requires constant but satisfying effort-between all of these essential components of Dominican spirituality.
The Four Pillars of Dominican Life
