Fr. James Brent, O.P.

Born and raised in a Catholic home in the suburbs of Detroit, Fr. Brent attended Catholic schools through high school. He studied philosophy in college and found himself increasingly compelled by the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas, who first introduced him to the Dominicans. More and more, the writings of Dominicans impressed him. When he arrived at graduate school in Detroit, he became involved with a community of Dominican priests. He was impressed by their life of common prayer, study, community, and preaching Christ, so much so that he decided to become a Dominican himself. Although it was at first difficult for him to come to terms with the sacrifices that Dominican life would entail, Fr. Brent says that since becoming a Dominican, he has "known a happiness, a joy, and a peace that is nowhere to be gained from any books of philosophy. For there is a happiness that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. There is a happiness that comes from living out His call. There is a happiness that comes from having a heart consecrated to Him by vows. And it is a happiness so deep and so profound that all the happiness of this world pales by comparison to it."