Aug 8 - Homily for Today

+ St. Dominic was born in Calaruega, Spain, in 1170.  While pregnant with him, his pious mother Joan had a vision that her unborn child was “a dog who would set the world on fire with a torch it carried in its mouth;” a dog with a torch in its mouth became a symbol for the Order which he founded, the Dominicans. At Dominic’s baptism, his mother saw a star shining from his chest, which became another of his symbols in art, and led to his patronage of astronomy.

Dominic studied philosophy and theology at the University of Palencia; then became a priest canon of the cathedral of Osma, Spain. This was run by the Augustinians. Dominic worked for clerical reform; and had a life-long apostolate among heretics, especially the Albigensians (Cathars) the “perfect ones” who saw matter as evil and that perfection required almost impossible- to-live-by spiritual austerities. His Order, the Dominicans were founded to convert the Albigensians. Their motto was “to praise, to bless, to preach!” At one point the Crusades were established by the Dominicans to keep the teachings of the Holy Church pure and true.

After a while, Dominic became discouraged at the progress of his mission: no matter how hard he worked, heresies remained. Then he received a vision from Our Lady who showed him a wreath of roses – the prefigurement of the rosary. She told him to pray this prayer daily for an increase of faith, and the victory over its enemies. The actual “invention” of the rosary most likely happened before this time, but Dominic certainly spread devotion to it. The same rosary today still has the same power of intensification of faith, and ought to be used for that purpose.

 Legend has it that St. Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the faith. Dominic met this very man the next day. He embraced him and said, “You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.” The beggar was St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Dominic died at noon on August 6, 1221 at age 51, mostly from exhaustion from his spiritual labors. He was canonized just 13 years later in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX.

Yes, the Dominicans are great preachers. But the word of God cannot be preached unless it is first proclaimed. Unless the word of God is heard it cannot stir the heart and the soul – it cannot lead to conversion and increase of faith – it cannot bear fruit unto eternal life. May we be both proclaimers and hearers of the word of God, that it might be an agent of transforming others, as well as ourselves!

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations!