When I was a novice, our Novice Master told us that, while God has promised that the Church will endure until the end of time, no such promise has been made to the Order of Preachers. Like all religious orders, we are here for as long as God wills it. We came into existence in the Church to serve a particular need, and I suppose we will be here until we are no longer needed.
It is important for us to remember this because every human institution has a propensity to think first of all of its own survival and continuation. I shall not court controversy by naming particular examples, but I am sure the reader will be able to think of many. Indeed, I would be lying if I denied that part of my motivation in praying for vocations to the English Province of the Order of Preachers is the hope that there will someone to look after me in my old age, and to remember me when I am gone.
