Br. Simon Terller, O.P., on Spiritual Vigilance

"Ever wonder why you sleep poorly on your first night away from home? Neuroscience has the answer, and it has to do with ducks.

"A mallard duck can rest one half of its brain at a time. According to an ornithological study, when a duck sleeps in a hostile environment, it keeps one eye open to stay alert to predators and one eye closed for a little shut-eye. When scientists examined the neurological behaviors of one of these half-sleeping ducks, they discovered that the side of the brain controlling the duck's open eye had 'activity levels of an awake bird,' while the other side had 'brain waves characteristic of sleep.' Even with one half of the brain asleep, the duck was still alert, reacting to images of predators in less than a second. Other birds, such as the great frigatebird, use the same technique of resting one half of the brain at a time to 'sleep on the wing' during their transoceanic flights. For our feathered friends, the ability to remain vigilant even during times of rest is crucial to their survival."

In a recent commentary, Brother Simon Teller, O.P., reflected on the importance of spiritual vigilance - which includes avoiding the enemy and, primarily, looking for Christ, keeping a part of our souls "always on the lookout for his providential love."

To access Br. Simon’s complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: Duck Sleep (18 JUN 18)