VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
What is life like for a newly professed brother in the Western Dominican Province (Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus) in Oakland, California? As a native from Kohala on the Big Island (the town on the northern tip), there were some things that I needed to get used to. The most important thing however, in any change as well as in every aspect of life, is to remain rooted in prayer.
I met the Dominicans through Holy Rosary Parish in Portland, Oregon. The parish is one of the Dominican province’s ministry sites. There, I was struck by the preaching and by the doctrinal orthodoxy of the friars and drawn by the order’s balance of the active and contemplative life.
I am currently in philosophy studies for the priesthood. Balancing studies and religious observance (chanting the Divine Office in choir, Mass, religious duties, etc.) has taken some getting used to. As a recent university graduate in 2018, I’m used to having more control over my schedule and study time.
For example, as a university student, I used to do most of my studies at night. But, since entering the Dominican order, I now need to study during the daytime so I can get to bed early for the 5 a.m. wake up in the morning!
A great joy of mine has been just delving deeper into the beautiful theology of religious consecration and working with God’s grace to renew the gift of myself to him every day.
An important part of this for me is to remain rooted in prayer. Often when we encounter challenges or become busy, the first thing to be thrown out the door is prayer. This should not happen! For me prayer is primary. I have gotten into the habit of never sacrificing prayer for any sort of work. Even if I am in the middle of really important work, I take a break at the appointed times to pray. It is from a disciplined and persistent prayer life that we build our foundation upon the rock of Christ. This gives us the strength to then go forth and do the work of the Lord.
Eucharistic adoration has always been my favorite way to pray. The only thing better than being in the “real presence” of Christ is receiving him in Communion. Any feeling of anxiety or stress that I am going through can often be dispelled by the all-conquering presence of Christ! It is a powerful reminder for me that the only thing that really matters is God. All else is naught compared to the Lord.
Most Churches have regularly scheduled adoration. If you cannot get to a regularly scheduled exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, you can adore Christ in the tabernacle of the church by simply being in front of it. The great thing about this is that you can stop by a church at any time if it is open and visit the Lord whose presence resides in the tabernacle. I will often not recite any prepared prayers but simply talk to the Lord as my friend (John 15:15) and bring him all my worries and needs as well as my thanksgiving for his blessings. This is a good time to bring prayer intentions of your friends or family to the Lord.
Brother Benedict Mary Bartsch is a member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) who made his simple profession this past August. He has three younger sisters and is the proud uncle to his oldest married sister’s son. He resides at the Priory of St. Albert the Great in Oakland, California.
