Dominican Life on Lotus Lane

\”The august Mother of God, mysterious united from all eternity with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a virgin inviolate in her divine motherhood, the wholehearted companion of the divine Redeemer who won complete victory over sin and its consequences, gained at last the supreme crown of her privileges–to be preserved immune from the corruption of the tomb, and, like her Son, when death had been conquered, to be carried up body and soul to the exalted glory of heaven, there to sit in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the ages.\” –Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950)

See our 2010 post on this feast here.

Today we celebrate the great feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. Scripture tells us that Jesus took his disciples Peter, James and John up Mt. Tabor with Him, and there He was transfigured before them–in other words, He appeared to them in all His glory and majesty. Moses (giver of the Law) and Elijah (the great prophet) are seen speaking with him about what will soon take place in Jerusalem (that is, His crucifixion and death, and resurrection). In Fra Angelico\’s portrayal, however, we see two additional figures: St. Dominic and Mary, the Mother of God. They were not present at the Transfiguration when it actually happened! But Fra Angelico (good Dominican that he was) makes the point here that we too can enter into the mysteries of salvation through prayer and lectio divina. With Peter, we can say, \”Lord, it is good for us to be here!\” and with Peter also we can hear the Lord saying in response, \”This is My beloved Son, listen to Him.\” Let us strive to listen to the voice of the Lord and follow Him in all we do, so that like the disciples, we may always see Jesus before us.

This image is taken from a fresco by Fra Angelico, the Dominican artist, and depicts Mary Magdalene in the garden of the Resurrection, trying to hold on to Christ. Because she first thought he might be the gardener, Fra Angelico shows Christ carrying what looks like a gardening hoe over his shoulder! St. Mary Magdalene is one of the patronesses of the Dominican Order, and according to legend spent the rest of her life as a hermit in France. As such, she is both a model for active men and women (because she was the first to announce the Resurrection to the apostles) and for contemplatives (because of her life of prayer). You can see our meditation from 2010 here. May we all grow to be great women and men of prayer through her intercession!