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Sing a New Song: The Christian Vocation

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SING A NEW SONG: The Christian Vocation by Timothy Radcliffe, OP

This book is a collection of talks which the author, a Roman Catholic priest who is currently head of the Dominican Order, has given on a variety of different occasions. While the presentations were initially designed for priests, nuns, brothers, and sisters, it is the author's conviction that the material also speaks to the Christian vocation. It is his hope that anyone who reads the book will live such a call ever more fully and thus bring about the singing of a new song.

In his position as Master of the Dominican Order, the author visits the members who are located all over the world. Regardless of where he has traveled, he finds that the major challenge facing the Christian vocation is violence. Humankind is portrayed as being destructive and greedy. Yet Christians must render a completely different understanding of what humankind is called to be. The Christian life, particularly the story of the Last Supper, calls us to be a transforming sign to all people around us especially the poor.

The author also speaks clearly about how one is to live the Christian life. One of his many topics is obedience. In a world which holds freedom and the individual as priorities, it might seem odd to believe in being obedient. Yet obedience is liberating because we must listen intently to Christ. Becoming one with Christ means giving our life to others. It means refusing to see freedom as being the consumer who has many choices when there are so many people who do not have even one choice.

While the author reflects on a variety of other topics which form the Christian vocation, the real foundation of his book is his own ability to share his personal experiences. He is a person who lives what he writes. He conveys a nice balance between being serious about living the Christian life, articulating his own struggles, and enjoying the life he lives. Easily any reader can relate to him.

Fr. Radcliffe is the former Master of the Order and the book is a collection of his letters and talks with members of the order as he traveled around the world. In the book he talks about he various places where Dominicans are living out their vocation. In particular, he talks about places torn by war such as Rwanda, Iraq, etc, and places where there are still issues of slavery such as parts of Brazil. He discusses concepts of linking the intellectual tradition that goes on in the Houses of Study with the realities which are being lived in those places listed above. Some of the scenes he describes in places where the order has a presence are heartbreaking, some are unbelievable, and some are downright appalling in their brutality and the casual manner in which life is treated. Yet throughout, Fr. Radcliffe manages to interject hope, humor, and love in such a way that one begins to get a feel for how truly special the Order is and how they are responding to God's call.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to learn more about the Order of Preachers and the ways they are living out the spirituality of St. Dominic in the modern world, the true scope of their vocation, etc.