Letter from the Director
Dear Friend,
The National Gallery in Washington DC,
which is a short walk from Saint Dominic’s
Priory, has one of my favorite paintings by
Rembrandt. Throughout his life the artist
was fascinated by St. Paul.
Sitting at a table in his prison cell, the
Apostle ponders the words he is about to
write in the epistle that lies before him.
The solemn expression of Paul’s strong
features underscores the depth of his
belief and sense of purpose in his mission
of rescuing humanity from the dominion
of sin.
The sword visible above the book is as
much the “sword of the Spirit,” the term
he used to describe the living word of God
in his letter to the Ephesians, as it is the
symbol of his military prowess as a soldier
for Christ. Paul viewed the cross of Christ,
as an inverted sword. Throughout his life
he cherished taking up Christ’s sword of
sorrow which he kept close to him like a
promised prize of victory.
It is no wonder that St. Dominic always
carried Paul’s epistles slung at his belt.
In this manner he constantly stocked the
BlackFriars - Volume IV, Issue II
arsenal of his mind with the arms of the
spirit in preparation for the next conflict,
and reenergized his soul by intimate
contact with God.
The Dominican Friars continue to live
out St. Dominic’s call to action bolstered
by contemplation. We prepare to preach
the Gospel convincingly by stocking our
minds with the best “spiritual weapons”:
the sound philosophy of our elder brother
St. Thomas, the teachings of the Church’s
magisterium, and the truths of science
and the other branches of knowledge.
In this issue of BlackFriars, you’ll read
about Dominican Friars bringing God in
word and sacrament to souls in secular
institutions—colleges
and
hospitals—
that are considered elite by the world’s
standards. This is something we
Dominicans are uniquely positioned to
do—largely thanks to your generosity.
Equipped for battle with the help of your
support, we will not abandon souls to a
world without God, but continue the fight
and prevail in the spirit of St. Dominic.
Yours in Christ and St. Dominic,
Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P.
Executive Director
Dominican Friars Foundation
Photo: The Apostle Paul By Rembrandt van Rijn
National Gallery of Art
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