Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary
“The first reason for which we are gathered together in community is to live in harmony, having one mind and heart in God” (Rule of St. Augustine). Our distinctive charism as Dominican Nuns is to have one mind and heart in God. It characterizes every aspect of our lives: how and why we live our enclosure, how and why we practice poverty, how we pray together, how and why we are obedient. St. Augustine’s vision — St. Dominic’s vision — of the communion of the early Church is the key to our whole way of life. Every aspect of our life helps us to grow into oneness of mind and heart, as we make our way to God.
The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common. (Acts 4:32)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
Becoming one mind and heart as a community is a life-long task, and requires great self-sacrifice and growth in charity. The words of our Lord, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit,” (John 12:24) are a good image of community life. If we hold ourselves apart from the rest of the community, whether externally or internally, we remain alone. But if we are willing to die, then our lives are woven into the beautiful fabric of the community, and we begin to produce much fruit. This life-long process takes much work through constant prayer and vigilance, but the result is that the charity, unity and joy of the community abound without measure.
The unity which we attain reflects the inner life of the Trinity. It is the sign and effect of God’s grace working within us. This unity transcends the limits of the monastery, coming to fullness in communion with the Order and with the whole Church of Christ. The whole community, united in the love of the Lord, becomes a radiant center of charity to all. We become an eschatalogical sign of the life to come: the union of Christ the Bridegroom with His Bride, the Church.
By obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a genuine love of your brothers; therefore, love one another constantly from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22)