Dominican Monasticism Research Paper

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As said by St. Dominic, "Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes." Through saying this, he is saying that it is more important to pray and have humility than fight and have pride. These beliefs relate directly to an idea he would develop which would become known as Dominican monasticism, a form of monasticism, or an aesthetic and simple lifestyle. The establishment of Dominican monasticism marked the beginning of a new religious movement, and allowed for a new form of monasticism that was lived in community and expressed through teaching, rather than merely being lived alone in solitude (Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia). Through examining the history of Dominican monasticism, seeing how it is still…show more content…
Dominic continue to affect people throughout the world. As stated earlier, there are over 4,000 Dominicans living in monasteries today, and they continue to follow the beliefs of St. Dominic. While the idea of prayer is still a fundamental belief of the Dominicans, so is the idea that life should be lived not alone in solitude, but in a community. As said by Br. Mannes Matous, O.P. while discussing the topic of Dominican nuns, "It is a great paradox, but by living the cloistered life, she is able to reach more people. She is not limited to the people physically around her. She surrenders her own power to affect people’s lives. Instead she offers herself totally and completely to God and in so doing He affects the world through her hidden life. This is what brings her the greatest joy." What he is trying to say is that through living in solitude for some of their time, the Dominicans are able to become closer to truly understanding God, and can therefore affect others in a greater way. For Dominicans, their daily lives include: Chanting the Divine Office, studying the Word of God, reciting the rosary publicly, praying for the deceased, private and community prayer, recreation time, etc. Contrary to other monastic practices, they do not spend all of their day in solitude, but rather also enjoy the benefits of spending time in community with other Dominicans, which they believe is

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