Being Compassionate Contemplatives

Albert Nolan OP was a South African born Dominican priest, writer, YCS Chaplain and activist against apartheid in South Africa. He is well-known, since the 1970s, for his writings in Christology (Jesus Before Christianity was an international best seller), but there are few published pieces of his writings on Dominican themes. At various times in his life he was Novice Master and Student Master to young Dominicans in his vice-province and so had to prepare talks to give to those under his care on aspects of the Dominican life, while at other times he was the provincial and so was invited to speak at meetings and conferences and gave talks reflection on his life and his vocation. This book brings together a number of these writings; talks to the novices, and papers he gave to others (including one to the Jesuits’ in South Africa), on Dominican saints, the spiritual life, and on various forms of prayer. Some of the papers are dated and it is clear to whom they were addressed, while others are not. However, they offer significant insights into his life and thoughts of being a Dominican in South Africa.