Anglican Dominican Novicing

Today, I had the privilege of witnessing the Novice Promises of the newest member of the Anglican Order of Preachers (Anglican Dominicans), Brother Erich Junger, from Frankfurt, Germany.

Brother Erich is an American citizen who lives and works in Germany. He is an Episcopal priest, from the Diocese of Washington, DC, now assisting in the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (the diocese of The Episcopal Church that covers most of Western Europe). He first contacted me as an Inquirer last year, and he recently completed his Postulancy phase, along with four others from all over the world.

In my sermon after receiving his Letter of Promise, I reflected on Sunday's reading from Acts, chapter 1, and how it applied to aptly to what we did today. The verse on which I focused was this, "why do you stand looking up towards heaven?" [Acts 1:11]

Too often, it seems, we act as though we are helpless and powerless, when all that is needed is for us to take action. When the disciples of Jesus, who had just seen him ascend into heaven, were asked this question by two angels, their response was to return to their lodging and devote themselves to prayer for ten days. At the end of that time, they received the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. You know what happened after that!

We Dominicans can never be accused of standing and looking up towards heaven. From our Founder on down through history, we have been doing the work of God. In fact, Dominic himself wrote into our Rule that, if it is time to pray and we are busy studying, preaching, or doing any other kind of God's work, we are not to stop for prayer, but rather to make our work a prayer (a very Augustinian idea, but that's what Dominic was as a canon).

Anglican Dominicans are guided by three hallmarks or mottoes. The first is  (in Latin) "Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare," or "To praise, to bless, to preach." We praise God in all that we say and do. Each of our actions is dedicated to the work and glory of God. Likewise, we bless by our words and deeds, always trying to show those around us the love and mercy of Our Lord. Finally, preaching is our primary charism. We are to preach, regardless of our status as lay or ordained, whether in a pulpit or street corner. These three charges are interwoven: by preaching, we praise God and bless our brothers and sisters.

The second hallmark is "Veritas" - the Latin word for "truth." Dominic felt his call to preach and teach when he found himself in a region that had strayed from orthodox understandings of the Bible and the teachings of and about Jesus. His commitment to explaining, teaching, and preaching the truth animated him from that day forward. He set that as a one-word challenge to every Dominican since: to be wholely committed to the truth, at all times, in all places, and at any cost.

The last hallmark is simple in the original Latin (Contemplare et Contemplata Aliis Tradere), but rather difficult to render into English. Essentially, it means "I will study, and I will use the fruits of my study to teach others." Dominicans are dedicated to life-long learning. We read, write, study, debate, discuss, teach, preach, and even email, blog, and tweet, so that we may fulfill this desire and charge to use what we learn for the benefit of those around us.

Brother Erich's journey in faith as an Anglican Dominican has just begun. I pray that he will be faithful to the Promises that he made at St Mary's today, and I pledge that I will support him with my prayers, counsel, and friendship as he continues that journey.

I ask that you all pray for him, for the other new Novices who make Promises this summer, and for the entire Anglican Order of Preachers, throughout the world.

Thank you.