Living Lives of Dynamic Orthodoxy

The Concept of Dynamic Orthodoxy is something I acquired during my time at Franciscan University. Ill borrow the definition from the University's mission statement at http://www.franciscan.edu:

"The Way, the Truth, and the Life are fundamental concepts . . .explicating dynamic orthodoxy. A way of life is promoted based on Christian truths as they are understood in light of Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church while always allowing for the development of the Church’s understanding of Revelation. These truths are lived out through the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit emanating from the personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

In response to Pope John Paul II's call to the New Evangelization we are called to be Dynamic Christians embracing the joy of life and celebrating the good of God's creation all the while being firm and faithful to the teachings of the Holy Magisterium. We are called to lives guided by Scripture and Sacred Tradition which evangelize the world through words and deeds.

The picture above is of my Catholic Fraternity, the 'Brothers of the Eternal Song'. The 'Brothers' were to me the epitomy of Dynamic Orthodoxy. We were all regular college aged young men who loved life and celebrated the extravagant Joy of the Lord. We did everything that regular boys do. . . We climbed mountains, took spontaneous journeys to different parts of the U.S. for no reason whatsoever, sought out the next greatest rollercoast or high bridge or rock to jump off of into lakes down below, pulled pranks on the Resident Dorm Director, etc. . .

Through all the play and craziness though we were bound by a covenant with each other to strive for holiness and purity. What set the 'Brothers' apart then was the devotion and loyalty that they had to prayer, Christ, and His Church. Every day at 3pm we would gather in the hall ways of our dorm to pray the 'Divine Mercy'. Each night at 8pm we would walk around the campus, rosary in hand, meditating on the life of Christ. And each Friday, at the break of dawn, we would all throw on our fraternity shirts and go to Mass.

The Brothers taught me what it was to be a Man following Christ. We were guided by the words of St. Francis: "What a man is before God, that he is, and nothing more." My time with the Brothers truly formed important aspects of the rest of my life. I left Franciscan University and the Brothers excited to bring God's love to the world, excited to spread 'Dynamic Orthodoxy' to other young Christians, and excited to be Catholic.

Of the men in the picture above two have become priests (well one has and one is still in seminary), four are now full time lay missionaries in South America, another handful are furthering their theology studies in Rome, some are serving America in the military, and many of the others are married with young families. We all still keep in touch reminding each other to maintain Christ at the center of our lives and to continue to strive to live lives of 'Dynamic Orthodoxy'.

(I know some Brothers read this Blog,,,, I miss you guys :)