From The Desk of Deacon Judy

As we remember Dominic on August 8, my mind wanders to my high school days and listening to my Sister Soeur recording of Dominique. Perhaps you will remember this enchanting French refrain:

Dominique, nique, nique S’en allait tout simplement, Routier pauvre et chantant En tous chemins en tous lieux, Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu, il ne parle que du Bon Dieu.

The song tells the story of Dominic, how he travelled simply, in poverty, singing along pathways and in all places, speaking only about God. What an evangelist he was!

Dominic sold his possessions to help the poor during a famine in 1191. He became ordained and began preaching in Languedoc (Southern France) in 1203. He converted the heretical Albigensians, who believed only in the God of a spiritual world and that the material world was evil therefore denying the material body of Jesus.

Dominic founded the Order of Preachers known as the Dominicans. In England they were known as the Blackfriars.

Like the Jesuits and the Franciscans, Dominicans take a vow of poverty. Jesuits are typically teachers and social justice advocates. Franciscans are humbly devoted to the service of the poor. Dominicans give priority to intellectual work and are best known as preachers.

Let us pray:

O God of the prophets, you opened the eyes of your servant Dominic to perceive a famine of hearing the word of the Lord, and moved him, and those he drew about him to satisfy that hunger with sound preaching and fervent devotion: Make your Church, dear Lord, in this and every age, attentive to the hungers of the world, and quick to respond in love to those who are perishing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

As we travel along our pathways, may we too share the Good News of God’s love.

God’s peace,