"I have not called you servants but friends..."
25 August 2010
Special thanks to Larry at Amoroma Blog for this wonderful photo of a friar at prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at Santa Sabina Rome. Larry, once a "neighbor" of ours while living in Hoboken, NJ but now living in Rome, captured so much of what Dominican "spirituality" is about in this photo. Thank you Larry for sharing this with all of us!
13 comments:
very, very beautiful.
I visited Santa Sabina in '06. It is beautiful in an understated way.
I just noticed the friar is barefoot. Well maybe the Lord is, too!
Mmmm !
In all charity, I have to say that I feel deeply uncomfortable at the sight of anyone - least of all a Dominican - seated (lounging, indeed) before Our Blessed Lord exposed in the Most Holy Sacrament.
Sorry !
Dominic, do you think that nuns are kneeling during their whole time of Adoration?
St. Dominic knelt, sat, prostrated, raised his hands up over his head like an arrow and yes, even fell asleep at the foot of the altar.
I would hardly call this lounging. He is seated before the Lord and unless he's putting on a good act, deeply engaged with our Lord cor ad cor.
As for the sandals being off well God did tell Moses to remove his because he was on holy ground.
And it might just be that he has terrible foot problems and had been running around Santa Sabina dealing with tourists all day!
He looks like he is having a conversation with a close Friend. I love it.
I agree with MaryO - he looks like he is having a conversation with a close friend, which suggests to me that he is very comfortable in the presence of our Lord! Thanks for posting it -- I find the picture very moving.
Love in Christ,
Candice
What a lovely photo!
No need to stand on ceremony, just two friends chilling out. Love it!
I am curious as to why this photo is an example of Dominican spirituality. Dominicans are more - relaxed before the Blessed Sacrament?
Beautiful. I often find myself in what some might consider "too lax" of prayer positions when I'm alone with the Lord...
Yes, we show our respect to His Holy Presence, but we also acknowledge our intimacy with Him as well.
Mmm . . .
Sorry if I appeared to be unduly critical : I accept everything everyone says . . . it's obviously just spiritual immaturity on my part; but I just can't bring myself to sit in front of Our Lord.
(Show how stupid I am, Sister : it hadn't even occurred to me that anyone didn't kneel throughout their adoration ! Mea culpa.)
I have to say when I saw this I thought, "wow I am not the only one" I may not sit right next to the altar, but I am always sitting in the first pew staring at the high altar that holds Jesus. But, something that most people in my parish seem to notice about me is I take off my shoes when I am praying or during the liturgy of the Eucharist. I always put them back on when I go to recieve communion, but while I am alone in the chapel or in the pews I take them off. I told my boyfriend "that I am touching a holy place and I want Him to touch me head to toe".
God Bless,
Nikita
(Postulant of the Third Order of Saint Dominican Laity)
I am a secular Carmelite, a.k.a. "the third order." Carmelite seculars promise to spend a half hour a day in meditation. Most of the time I spend it very early in the morning, just after having recited Morning Prayer from the Office, sitting on my couch having a cup of coffee and just listening for God. I call it "coffee with God" and I don't think it's irreverent.
Teresa of Avila, foundress of the Discalced (i.e. reformed)branch of the Carmelites and Doctor of the Church, called prayer simply a "coversation between friends." This picture seems to me a perfect example of that.
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