Being Compassionate Contemplatives

Albert Nolan OP was a South African born Dominican priest, writer, YCS Chaplain and activist against apartheid in South Africa. He is well-known, since the 1970s, for his writings in Christology (Jesus Before Christianity was an international best seller), but there are few published pieces of his writings on Dominican themes. At various times in his life he was Novice Master and Student Master to young Dominicans in his vice-province and so had to prepare talks to give to those under his care on aspects of the Dominican life, while at other times he was the provincial and so was invited to speak at meetings and conferences and gave talks reflection on his life and his vocation. This books brings together a number of these writings; talks to the novices, and papers he gave to others (including one to the Jesuits' in South Africa), on Dominican saints, the spiritual life, and on various forms of prayer. Some of the papers are dated and it is clear to whom they were addressed, while others are not. However, they offer significant insights into his life and thoughts of being a Dominican in South Africa. 'For [Albert it] was clear that Jesus was the prophet par excellence and it is his prophetic or preaching office which we as a Dominican community try to imitate'. The followers of St Dominic are 'a sign of contradiction, criticising the society in which they live and stand(ing) out as the conscience of the people, condemning every form of worldliness.' He recognised the important role in the life of the Order played by St Catherine of Siena, 'a powerful example of what it means to be a true Dominican'. And while Catherine's first aim was to dedicate herself totally to contemplation, it was precisely her union with God in Jesus that drove her out of her cell to give to others the