LAY DOMINICANS Central Province USA

Our Candidates have been studying our Rule when we came across a startling inadequate Guideline, in our humble opinions.  Rule 6  states that one of the "sources for  perfecting Dominican formation" is "awareness of the signs of the times."  Unfortunately, Guideline 13 e. then gives nine very negative examples of these signs.  Are there no positive signs?  I think so.

In Matthew 16:3-4 Jesus gives the sign of Jonah, referring to Himself, as a sign of the times.  Nothing could be more positive.  John XXIII mentions three positive signs (Pacem in Terris, nn 39-43).  The first is the labor movement.  "Working men all over the world are loud in their demands that they shall in no circumstances  be subjected to arbitrary treatment, as though devoid of intelligence and freedom."  The second is the women's movement.  As late as 1920 women could not vote in the U.S.  "Women are gaining an increasing awareness of their natural dignity."  The third is the movement for national political independence.  "Soon no nation will rule over another and none will be subject to an alien power."  In the Decree on Ecumenism n 4 one of the signs of the times is the "ecumenical movement."

These are four positive signs and I am sure you can think of others.  "At all times the Church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel." (Gaudium et Spes n 4).   A positive attitude will help us preach the "good news" in the modern world.  The Guidelines should include positive "signs of the times."  It's in the spirit of St. Dominic.