Letter from General Prioress

Dear Sisters,

Now that the situation has already permitted and I am starting to carry out the visits I thought of accomplishing before the pandemic, here I am among the sisters of our filial houses, echoing the Church’s call to participate in the preparation for the Synod on synodality, at the same time, listening and reflecting on the sisters’ experience of synodality within our institute. This process raises questions that, in my opinion, require careful reflection at all levels: what does “walking together” mean to us? How can we nurture a true spirituality of communion and put it into practice through listening, dialogue and discernment, at the service of our institute and of the society in which we live?

In this context, remembering the life of our father St. Dominic becomes more significant because his person is a brilliant example of a synodal man. As a man of the Church, zealous for the “salvation of souls”, we can clearly see how he lived the three key words of the synod underlined by Pope Francis: communion, participation and mission”.

Our Father did not live isolated from the reality of his time, he did not settle in the comfort of his family castle, nor did he pursue a dream that revolves around himself. He was communitarian from his childhood, during his adolescence and youth, sharing and helping his companions as well as the needy people who crossed his path. When he finished his studies in Palencia, he did not establish himself in a simple parish, but continued to live in community like the other professors at the University of Palencia. When obedience led him to join the Canons of Osma, he lived his community life not only within the convent walls, but also in the small surrounding towns teaching catechism to ordinary people.

The reality that he encountered during his journey to northern Europe awakened in him a missionary zeal to defend the truth of our faith against heretics. Dominic left his country, his culture, his language, his customs. He left everything for one reason: that the word of God reaches all his brothers. He discovered the gift of missionary vocation by taking step by step what the Lord places along his path day by day.

Dominic’s restless heart led him to face all kinds of difficulties which he knew could only be responded by giving the best of himself, aware that he was participating in the great mission of the Church. The missions entrusted to our father were many and varied, such as: the evangelical way of preaching which was very different from the preaching style of the pontifical legates, gathering together young women who abandoned heresy to form with them the first convent of Cloistered Dominican nuns in Prouille, bringing together, by mandate of the Pope in Rome, those religious communities living in a dysfunctional way.  And to consolidate this participation in the ecclesial mission, he founded the Order and had the audacity to send his brothers two by two in the style of the apostles to preach, found convents and study in the universities of that time.

Descriptions of St. Dominic’s character abound. He stood out for his compassionate spirit and sensitivity towards the other. He considered it his duty to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. He treated everyone finely, always proceeding along the path of simplicity; neither in his words nor in his works was the slightest vestige of fiction or duplicity observed. All men fit into the immense charity of his heart and, loving them all, he was loved by all.

What does the example of our father teach us so that we can “walk together” as an institute and be faithful to the mission that the Church has entrusted to us? Perhaps we should start by examining our attitudes, not to awaken remorse or find somebody to blame, but to discover what we need to improve and strengthen. Do they favor communion between us and with those who are different from us? Do they open channels of participation or opportunity to express oneself? Do they facilitate the mission?

Communion is a task and at the same time a grace that makes us transcend our narrowness, intolerance, selfishness and exclusiveness. It involves opening our hearts and embracing others despite their limitations, reaching out to the least and seeking the lost in order to lead them into the way of the Lord. It is getting out of our divisive and discriminatory attitudes, to build bridges instead of walls, to heal and not to hurt.

We promote communion among ourselves if we do not conform with feeling good with those whom we can relate easily, but rather when we are open and sensitive to those who do not belong to our circle, making each Sister feel welcomed and loved as she is. Hence, we can appreciate each one as an important part of the totality of our being as a congregation. The image of our institute is never complete without “me” and “you”. Aware of this, our participation comes spontaneously because we know that each one of us has something to contribute and no one can replace what we fail to share.  Participation in our communities is favored when we sharpen our ability to listen and dare to open windows or doors so that new air can enter. All this will lead us to undertake our mission with enthusiasm because we can do nothing but proclaim what we have lived, that is, bear witness of God’s love in the midst of the entire human family.    

The beauty of «walking together» arises in the readiness of each one to encourage each other so that we can all reach the goal.  It implies the ability to be still and listen together the voice of the Spirit, to read together the signs of the times and thus shape our charism in a given context of time and place.

We speak of synodality as something new, but in reality, it is already reflected in the rule that St. Dominic chose when he founded the Order, the Rule of Saint Augustine: “…have only one soul and one heart in God”.  Precisely, these same words describe the experience and way of life of the first Christian communities, the spirit that the Church wishes to revive in our time.

May our father and through the intercession of our Mother, our Lady of the Rosary, rekindle in us the courage to continue on this path.

Happy feastday of our father St. Dominic!

My fraternal embrace and prayer,

                                            Sor Mª Asunción González, O.P.

                                                   General Prioress

Dear Sisters:

Once again, the Lord gives us the gift of this important season – as the Church tells us – the Season of Lent; time in which we reflect on our faith and prepare ourselves for Easter, that great Paschal event, consequently we also have to reflect on our life: how we lived it both personally and as a community. The Church presents before us three pillars, which Jesus developed in the Gospel of Ash Wednesday, Matthew 6:1-6.16-18.

In this text he offers us the three pillars of the Christian life: prayer, fasting and almsgiving and He proposes it to us in a humble, simple way, without vanity.

He proposes a simple, intimate, deep, hidden prayer, nothing external; a prayer in which we only seek God’s gaze and his heart, and Jesus wants it to be a dialogue with him, that we listen to his Word, in which we will find what he wants us to do. That in this time of prayer we keep in mind the needs of all our brothers, the difficult situations that all of humanity is going through, religious, political, economic situations…

The fasting that we observe is not an exterior act, as the Pharisees did, but rather putting ourselves in the skin of the other, in the shoes of the one who suffers, in reviewing our attitudes and actions, in scrutinizing the motives we have in giving ourselves and helping others. That we know how to fast from so many things that complicate our lives; those that make us lose peace; that we put aside the relationships that harm us, and those that hurt others. That we know how to fast from so many disappointments, from so many worries, from so many destructive words, from so many indifferences… and that we know how to open ourselves to others as our brothers and sisters.

The alms that he wants from us is to be fastidiously concerned about the needs of the other, of those closest to us, of those who suffer, our sisters who feel lonely, sick, the elderly… Let us be attentive, giving them some of our time, saying words of encouragement, that we comfort and inspire those who are sad and lonely. Many times, it is enough just to be kind, to give a smile, say a word that inspires, words that make them happy in the midst of so much indifference that they so often meet.

Let us ask the Lord that in these days of Lent we be shown the path of love, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and the capacity to accept everyone.

May Mary, our guide on this Lenten journey, lead us to an ever deeper knowledge of Christ, the one who died and is risen. That She, who is the faithful servant of her Son, intercede for each one of us now and always.

I wish you all a Blessed Lent and a Happy Easter!

A sisterly embrace and my prayer,

                                               Sor Mª Asunción González, O.P.

                                                         Prioress General

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary 2021

Dear sisters,

            We are in October, the so-called “month of the Rosary” and in it we celebrate the feast of Our Mother, the Lady of the Rosary. Is there a better way of honoring her than by praying the rosary? She has appeared a lot of time with “rosary in hand”.  She loves the rosary, because though it may seem that its prayer is a mere manifestation of Marian piety (it is, as well), nevertheless its foundation is Christological, the protagonist is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Virgin Mary.

            Indeed, the various mysteries of the Rosary are like «photographs» of emblematic moments in the life of Jesus, perceived through the eyes of Mary.  In the Gospel of her feast day (Lk 1: 26-38), we contemplate the mystery of the Annunciation of the archangel, Saint Gabriel, to the Virgin. The dialogue between the messenger and Mary is very important; important in her YES, «let it be done to me according to your word». Important because it marked the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise of salvation: the Incarnation of the Son of God. The protagonist is Jesus who became incarnate in his womb; Mary acts as an instrument.

            The rosary is a simple and profound prayer that leads us to contemplate the face of the Lord.  Guided by the hands of Our Mother we approach the Son. In the contemplation of each mystery of the rosary we can learn from Mary the contemplation of the beauty of the face of Christ and experience the depth of the entire Gospel message. The rosary is nourished directly from the Gospel; therefore, it helps us embrace the evangelical values.

            With good reason, Pope Saint Paul VI said of the Rosary that it is a compendium of the Gospel; but without contemplation, it is a body without a soul and its prayer is in danger of becoming a mechanical repetition. The Rosary requires a slow, thoughtful and attentive prayer that facilitates meditation on the mysteries of the Lord, seen through the heart of Mary.

            Sisters, may Our Mother, the Lady of the Rosary, help us to strengthen our union and communion with Christ.

HAPPY FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY!

                                                                  My fraternal embrace and prayer,

                                                                                   Sor Mª Asunción González, O.P.   

                                                                                               General Prioress

Dear Sisters,

Once again, the Lord has given us the opportunity to celebrate the feast of Our Father Saint Dominic. This year in the context of the eighth centenary of his «dies natalis» under the theme “At the table with St. Dominic of Guzman”. The motto is derived from the painting called «Mascarella»; the oldest painting of St. Dominic which reflects one of the fundamental pillars of the Dominican charism “The Community Life”; a table around which his children sit as a family, in communion within the community.

For St. Dominic, community life constitutes a value and a fundamental pillar. In choosing the Rule for the Order, he chose that of Saint Augustine, which begins by reminding the religious that «they live in the same house to form a single family having one heart and one soul in God”. Community life is the fertile soil where the mission- preaching, gains strength. For this reason, he asked the novices two things before accepting them into the Order: obedience and commitment to community life. 

             Wanting to imitate the Apostles throughout his life, Dominic had as a model for the community of his brothers the first apostolic community. In this community the first Christians «devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers. All believers lived together and had everything in common. Praising God and enjoying the good favor of the people”. 

             Dominic lived community life in its fullness. He participated in all the activities and submitted to the community in everything. «He thoroughly observed the Rule – according to the witnesses in the canonization process – and does not easily dispense himself from it. He followed the community in the choir, the dining room for the meals and in all places» according to the schedules; he adapted himself to the community in everything, and although he often spent the nights praying in the church, he is present in the chapel with his brothers for the morning prayer «. However, community life is not only about being present in the regular observances; because one can be physically present but emotionally far away; the gestures and details of his closeness and tenderness towards the nuns and brothers are recognized by everyone. Saint Dominic taught us that life in common requires charity towards each sister, presence and active participation in the activities of the community, rejoice with those who are rejoicing, sympathy with those who are sad, listen to each person and accept everyone.

             It also means putting everything in common; not only the material things or the fruit of one’s own work, but also the values, gifts and qualities that each sister has; sharing their ideas, helping each other and placing the common good first before individual interest. I believe that the reason why Dominic was exemplary in community living was because of his humanity, he was fully human, fully alive.

Dominic’s humanity is characterized by contrasts: strong but tender, decisive but open, firm but compassionate.

Dominic had to overcome many obstacles, many adversities in life, however nothing of harshness, rigidity or intolerance is ever seen in his character. According to the memory of witnesses who lived with him, Dominic stood out especially for his tenderness, sensitivity and compassion- virtues that humanize.

He lived and fully exemplified what Pope Francis affirms “only tenderness can change people”.

Dominic´s heart broke; he is deeply moved by the sufferings and needs of others. He went out and put himself in place of the other, he sympathized with their pain and joy. He was warm and treated everybody humanely. These are just some of his traits, his true humanity. It was not sufficient for him to feel sorry, he did something and responded to injustices and to the needs of others. We know very well the many episodes in his life in which he tried to remedy the suffering of somebody to the extent of giving his own life.

The Master of the Order, Fr. Gerard, challenged us in one of his letters about the jubilee: What does it mean for us to be at table with Saint Dominic in the here and now?

We have to ask this question specially at this time when the fear of being contaminated from Covid 19 virus overwhelms and threatens us and use it as an excuse to «keep our distance”.

I think that to sit down at the table of St. Dominic today implies that we intentionally become attentive to the needs of the sisters specially the weak, those who are most in need, those who are apparently self-sufficient; to listen patiently to each one, listen to their fears, their concerns, their anxieties and encourage that each sister can freely express her concerns and be comforted with respect and kindness. Not all have the same sensitivity and the ability to face the “fears” of life. As the saying goes: “those who are strong have to bear the infirmities of the weak». 

To sit at the table of Dominic in our present time commits us to dare to talk to each other, in all honesty and truthfulness say what we care about our community, what troubles us, what we like, as well as the concerns of our fellowmen.  For this we have to support as well as sustain each other and seriously discern the urgent needs of our present society.

A community does not advance humanly or spiritually if it is not nourished, expressed and manifested with gestures, attitudes and words. Only if we express our humanity and tenderness, as did our Father, can we witness the greatness of the love and fellowship and respond to the cries of injustice and needs of humanity. Dominic was well aware of the reality of his time, he got involved and committed himself to making a better world.

Let us learn from Dominic how to pay attention to the sisters whom we live with; to accept and welcome their weaknesses and vulnerabilities, just as he accepted that of the friars with whom he lived.  Let us avoid closing in on ourselves but let us open, as he did, our eyes, ears and arms to the cry of those who are in need.

I think Dominic would be delighted to live in communities today where there is genuine concern, love and support for each other; where each one strives to discern the signs of the times making this civilization a little more pleasant to live in.

HAPPY FEASTDAY OF ST. DOMINIC. May this jubilee year serve to renew ourselves by following the teachings and examples of our Father.

With fraternal embrace and my prayers,

                                            Sor Mª Asunción González, O.P.

                                                   General Prioress