Br. Ezra Sullivan, O.P.
First Profession: August 15, 2005
Home Town: Placerville, California
Alma Mater: St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland
Eight Reasons Why I Became a Dominican
8) Once I was a Baptist, in partial communion with the Church. After my conversion, I entered into full communion with Church. Now as a Dominican I receive holy communion every day. That's worth all the sacrifice in the world.
7) Priests like Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Newman, and Saint Dominic inspired me with the beauty and dignity of their lives and preaching. But I couldn't be Pope or Cardinal, so to imitate all three, I followed Dominic.
6) My father is a Protestant preacher, my grandfather is a Protestant preacher, and my great-great grandfather was a Protestant preacher. But I am Catholic, so I entered the Order of Preachers.
5) When I began discerning my vocation, I realized that I had to put myself in a situation where I could say "yes" if I was called to the priesthood. This meant going to confession regularly and doing such things as teaching Catechism and praying the liturgy of the hours with friends. Becoming a Dominican meant saying yes to teaching and praying for the rest of my life in community.
4) I am easily swayed by the influence of others. Upon visiting the House of Studies, I discovered that the brothers are full of zeal for souls and love of Truth; as a Dominican, I can be influenced by the brothers and in turn influence them.
3) Many people suffer from minds darkened with error and hearts frozen with indifference to goodness. In order to remedy this, I entered the Dominicans so that, as one of them, I too might inflame hearts with love of truth.
2) When looking for an orthodox, liturgically sound, psychologically sane community, the ones I found that had centuries of experience, a good reputation, a truly active and contemplative life, and humble charity were few, and the Dominicans of St. Joseph's province among the best.
1) God called me here.
One Reason Why I Stay: To give up such a great gift, for which I thank God every morning, would be like getting divorced, forsaking my friends, leaving my home, and spitting in the face of Jesus himself.