The summer of 2024 marked a life-changing milestone for UST alumnus Anthony Aquila ‘22. He professed religious vows in the Dominican Order and became known as Brother Cassian Mary, OP. Below, Br. Cassian Mary tells the story of how the University of St. Thomas-Houston led him to discover himself and who God is through the intellectual life and the life of prayer. In so doing, he discovered his vocation.
In the Words of Br. Cassian Mary Aquila
“I graduated from UST with a B.A./M.A. in Theology and a B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society. When looking back on my journey, I think of what God once said to St. Catherine of Siena, ‘Do you know, daughter, who you are and who I am? If you know these two things, you will have beatitude (supreme blessedness) within your grasp. You are she who is not, and I am He who is.’
His Quest for Answers
“My entire college career at UST was seeking these answers: Who am I? And who is God? God, in his mercy, gave me the beginning of these answers through my studies and community. During my first two years of college, I was very set on the aesthetics of what I considered being a Catholic man: Go to mass, work out, study well, and be involved in everything on campus. All of these activities were good! But ultimately, they were useless because they were done out of a desire to be perfect without God, to become a sort of Catholic Übermensch (superman). However, I was nothing but a rusty gong or a resounding cymbal because I had no love (1 Cor. 13).
Surrendering His Need to Be Perfect
“Through the help of a spiritual director and the practice of Lectio Divina—praying with scripture—I came to understand the brokenness of the people in scripture. St. Peter’s failure became my failure; St. Peter’s forgiveness had become my forgiveness. I didn’t need to be perfect according to my criteria. I needed to understand who God is and who I am. God is Love, and I am nothing. Love came down and took flesh for me and wants me to be that same love for the world. My nothingness has become something because of God.
Responding to God’s Love with Fidelity
“That is why I joined the Order of Preachers because God’s love is good news, and that good news needs to be heard by everyone. That is what UST taught me: to discover who I am and who God is through the intellectual life and through the life of prayer. My ultimate desire has become to respond to God’s love with fidelity.
The Importance of Professors Who Believed in Him and Prayed
“This discovery of my vocation was also fostered by professors who took a vested interest in my spiritual growth. I do not think some professors understand what believing in a student can do for them. It gives them the confidence to be unafraid, to rise above what they think they can do and accomplish more. I know that the prayers and support of the UST community have helped me through my first year as a Dominican novice. Your prayers matter! Please continue to pray for vocations and for the strengthening of those who have accepted the call to be unafraid in the service of God.
“When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this, we are no longer slaves to sin. The person who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:4, 6-7).”
Journeying to Discernment
The vows taken by Br. Cassian Mary are a “simple profession” of vows, which carry a three-year commitment. He would renew for two more years at the end of that period. “Solemn vows” are taken later in formation.
More About Br. Cassian Mary Aquila, OP
Br. Cassian Mary is a son of Diane and Dr. Dominic Aquila, professor of history and associate dean of Liberal Studies for the Fine and Performing Arts at UST-Houston. Br. Cassian Mary is a student brother in the Dominican Scholasticate in St. Louis, MO.