The Dominican Pillar of Study
The pillar of Study deepens the Dominican’s relationship with God and prepares him or her for service to others through contemplation. For this reason, study is essential to the Dominican way of life.
Saint Dominic began the Order because he perceived that the “boots on the ground” priests who ministered to the Laity did not have time, resources, or inclination to study and therefore often led others into doctrinal errors. Meanwhile, cloistered monks who did not interact with the Laity spent hours studying the truths of the Faith.
Saint Dominic’s vision was an Order of Preachers who would learn theological truths through the contemplative methods of prayer and rigorous study and then share the fruits of their contemplation with others through preaching.
This would ensure a constant source of doctrinally orthodox teaching and preaching to help combat heresy as well as unbelief, misunderstandings, and confusion.
As such, all Dominicans, including lay members of the Order, are called to study the Word of God through Scripture and through the vast and incredibly rich Tradition of the Catholic Church.
