Dominican Spirituality: Contemplation That Becomes Action

Dominican spirituality consists of a means of meeting God through contemplation, study, prayer, community, and ministry, and it is based on the vision of St. Dominic, encouraging us to come to a deep encounter with God and then to share with the world the results of that encounter.

The essence of life in the Dominican tradition is the journey from contemplation to action—this involves listening carefully, searching for the truth, recognizing the presence of God, and then responding with compassion and justice.

Dominican spirituality embraces:

• Contemplation means setting aside time to meet with God through silence, prayer, creation, and ordinary life.
• Gaining the truth through the use of Scripture, theology, study, experience, and sincere questioning.
• Community means discovering God through relationships, together praying, having conversations, and experiencing a sense of belonging.
• Preaching involves sharing the Gospel through the use of words, through one’s presence, by way of witness, and through compassionate action.
• Justice means supporting the marginalized and addressing the needs of our world.
• Hope means having the trust that God is always actively at work in transforming individuals, communities, and creation.

Dominican spirituality is not merely acquired; it must be lived, involving us in becoming reflective individuals who listen deeply, think critically, love generously, and act with courage.

Reflection results in transformation, transformation in turn leads to a sense of mission, and that mission then serves as a means of bringing God’s truth, mercy, and hope into the world.