Dominican Sojourn

I recently had the pleasure of meeting many of the Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Albert the Great (Central U.S.A.), which is based in Chicago. The occasion was the Solemn Profession of vows of one of their lay brothers--in Dominican parlance, "cooperator brothers"--Brother Paul Byrd, O.P. Everyone should read his excellent blog about the life and work of a Dominican Cooperator Brother.

After the Mass, in which Brother Paul professed perpetual poverty, chastity and obedience, his Dominican brothers hosted a dinner reception. I'll say this: the Dominicans are a lively bunch! After everyone had taken their seats at table, in walked Brother Paul, who was greeted with cheers, applause, and no small amount of banging on tables and twirling of napkins. Wine was served, and as dinner was ending, a positively ancient Friar rose to propose a toast to Fr. Michael, who has served as Prior Provincial for the past eight years. He received a standing ovation from his brothers.

"Dominican joy" is a common theme in the life and work of the Order of Preachers. Founded by St. Dominic de Guzmán in Spain in the thirteenth century, the Order was largely committed to the correction of Albigensianism. Albigensianism is essentially an iteration of Manichaeism, which is partly a perversion of Platonism, whereby the material world--particularly the human body--is believed to be inherently evil. According to this most un-Christian of doctrines, the body is not to be disciplined, by flagellation or fast, but destroyed. In the squalor of the thirteenth century city, the Albigensians were to be seen on every street corner, telling the poor that they were better off for their woes. Amidst this absurdity entered the white-robed Friars who stubbornly insisted that "God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good" (Gen 1:31).

There is, indeed, some truth to the phrase, "there is nothing good or evil but thinking makes it so." Or, as Chesterton rephrases, "there are no bad things but only bad thoughts; and especially bad intentions," and if the path to hell be paved with anything, the one thing it cannot be paved with is good intentions. Drink is not evil, nor even drinking; only drunkenness is contrary to the Divine Will. And as Augustine advises, "few are they whose sins should be treated with severity."

Which is, perhaps, why Dominicans enjoy life so much; at least, they enjoy those things that make life worth living: food, drink, friends, laughter, art, religion. In fact, as I dined with my new Dominican friends, I could not help but think of Belloc's famous rhyme:

Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!