ST. MARGARET OF CASTELLO CHAPTER  

Members of the Blessed Margaret of Castello Chapter in Idaho, welcome you to the Chapter's website, dominicanidaho.org.  The Chapter meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Boise, Idaho at 10:00 o'clock a.m., with prayer, discussion and fellowship.  The Members are committed to the practice and holiness of the Rule of St. Dominic for the Laity.

You are welcome to attend.  Check our calendar not only for the monthly meetings but periodic events, such as its annual Magdalene Retreat, held on or near the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, celebrated on the 22nd of July of each year.  In addition, we will notify other events such as Chapter encore, visits by the Friars, and other key Dominican events.

The Chapter is known as the Third Order of St. Dominic, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax exempt Idaho nonprofit corporation; in affiliation with, and under the authority of, the Most Holy Name of Jesus Province of the Dominican Friars in the western United States of America.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and be with you all the days of your life.   Would you like more information via email?  Click on REGISTER above.

The Chapter has a new Religious Assistant, effecive July 2020.  His name is Fr. Peter Do, O.P.  Welcome to the Blessed Margaret of Castello Chapter, Fr. Peter!

The Chapter held its professions on October 17, 2020 at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Boise.  The following postulants were received: Joanne Baker, Brendan Earle, Cathie Farr, & Tom Lester & Michael Rafferty; Novices: Andrew Bartel, Emily Gossard, Katie Kuchar, & Brian Walker.  The following were temporarily professed: Alanna Burg, Pamila Jaszkowiak, Katherine Lockyer, Joseph Rekiere, & Pamila St. John.  The following were perpetually Professed: Joshua Andrus, Ken Jercha, Leslie Jercha, and Theresa Lester.  Congratulations and blessings to all newly received and professed!! 

From St. Justin’s famous “Apology” to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (c. 153-155 A.D.) on his account of Holy Mass:

There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen...And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.

And this food is called among us Eucharistia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.

Credit: The Pillar, June 1, 2021.  For the entire letter on the First Apology of Justin, see this LINK.

Letter of St. Thomas to a student about the Method of Study:

     Because you have asked me, John, my dearest friend in Christ, how you should study to amass the treasure of knowledge, such is the advice I give to you.
      You should choose to enter not immediately into the ocean depths, but rather through small streams, for one should reach more difficult matters by going through the easier ones first. This is, therefore, my admonition and your instruction.
          -- I bid you be slow to speak and slow to approach the [“chatroom"] parlor.
          -- Embrace purity of conscience.  Do not fail to have time for prayer.
         -- You should frequently choose your own room if you wish to be led into the wine cellar.
         -- Present yourself as amiable to all. Do not look for deep, hidden meanings in the deeds of others. To no one should you show yourself to be too familiar, because too much familiarity gives birth to contempt and provides from its eagerness the raw material for backsliding. You should in no way involve yourself concerning the words and deeds of worldly people.
         -- Above all else you should flee from common conversation. You should not fail to imitate the steps of the saints and all good people.
        -- You should not consider the source from which you hear something, but whatever good is spoken, commit it to memory.
         -- Those things that you read and hear, make sure that you understand them. Make yourself certain about doubtful matters and make it your business to shelve in the bookcase of your mind whatever you can, as if desiring to fill a vase.
         -- Do not seek the matters that are above you.
 
     Following those well-known paths, you will bring forth and produce, as long as you have life, branches and fruits useful in the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts. If you eagerly follow these points, you will be able to attain that which you are striving after.
 

     In Matthew 11:28, our Lord says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Fr. Bart de la Torre, O.P. said of this verse from the Gospel of Matthew, that it gives cause for his daily prayer, “O Lord, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.”  Humility is the way to God, for in it there is wisdom and truth, in His fullness.

     As lay Dominicans, it is our task to be humble and open to the truth.  Christ promised that the Holy Spirit is our advocate and that He would be with us forever, the spirit of truth.  John 14:15. As fallen humanity, people are not always open to the truth, either because of the message or the messenger, our pride, our state in life, our perspective, or our worldview!  Yet, as Christians we have a duty to listen and adhere to the truth, convenient or inconvenient. 

     The motto of the Order of Preachers is Truth, and there are ways of speaking the Truth in the praising of God, in the blessing of other persons, or in the preaching of our lives, that adheres to the Truth yet in a certain kindness and reverence.  In the end, we can preach the truth by example, participating in the hope that hearers of the Words will be doers of the Word in truth.

In addition, as Dominicans, in the lifelong formation of the charism and tradition of St. Dominic and in Christ, it is a singular joy to live in the Spirit.  The fruits of the life in the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22).

     As members of the St. Margaret of Castello Chapter, we must accept the Truth—and teach the Truth—as the Church teaches it (As Christ as its holy Head!).  By accepting and teaching the truth of Christ, we do so irrespective of our personal opinions, preferences, and passions; yet it must be done with the Holy Spirit, in kindness and humility.  It is a certain humility with kindness that reflects a Godly respect for others. 

     It can be summed up as follows:  “To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity.”  Caritas in Veritate, no. 1, Benedict XVI (2009).

-- by John Keenan, O.P.L., Prior