Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Three

Herewith another installment of the novena in honor of St. Dominic from John Keenan's little treasure chest, Devotions to St. Dominic, in preparation for St. Dominic's feast day.

Third Day: Compunction of Heart

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle within them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and our hearts shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be ever truly wise, and ever rejoice in His holy consolation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O light of Holy Church,
Teacher of Truth Divine,
Sweet rose of patience,
Ivory white thy chastity doth shine.
Of Wisdom's living waters
All freely thou hast given;
O messenger of grace to men,
Lift thou our souls to heaven.

"They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts and in His sight will sanctify their souls. They that fear the Lord keep His commandments and will have patience even until His visitation, saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the Lord and not into the hands of men. For according to His greatness, so also is His mercy with Him." (Ecclus. II, 20-23.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

"ROSA PATIENTIÆ," ROSE OF PATIENCE

Though so pure that Holy Church calls him "Ivory of Chastity," and Christian art puts a lily into his hands, Dominic was always weeping over sin. His soul being full of contrition, acts of sorrow were constantly upon his lips. On seeing towns or villages, he used to weep over the sins committed there against God. Though so cheerful with others, in his prayers he shed many tears. But this sorrow was not merely hidden in the soul, it bore fruit in works of penance. Thrice every night he scourged himself to blood: once for his own sins, once for those of others, once for the suffering souls. He was a rule of abstinence, even on journeys never eating flesh meat or food cooked with meat. His fasts were strict and continual; even when travelling over Europe on foot, he fasted from September till Easter, though preaching daily. For ten years he tasted no wine, and afterwards, by order of superiors, only a few drops in water. He never had a room or bed of his own, but slept anywehre, on the ground, a bench, the altar-step. He was tightly girded with an iron chain, only found after his death. Being a zealous lover of rule, he punished faults severely, but with such fatherly love that penance was sweet from his hands.

"If you have no sins of your own to weep for," St. Dominic would say, "stillweep, after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, and grieve for the sinners of the world, that they may repent."

"Whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (St. Luke XIV, 27.)

Responsory

The Word of life he loud proclaims,

Nor shame nor fear doth know.

His pen defends the faith of Christ

And vanquishes the foe.

V. Three times the book -- O wondrous sight! --

Amidst the flames they cast;

Three times, uninjured, it is flung

From out the fiery blast.

R. His pen defends the faith of Christ

And vanquishes the foe.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. His pen defends the faith of Christ
And vanquishes the foe.

V. Pray for us, O holy father, St. Dominic.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O zealous preacher of penance, holy father, St. Dominic, whose ardent desire for the salvation of souls made the ever ready to endure the greatest labors and fatigues and even to give thy life in order to win them to God, pray for us, that treading in the steps of Jesus Crucified, the Redeemer and Physician of souls, we may disregard all suffering and generously sacrifice ourselves for the needs of others. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain with us always.

R. Amen.

V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.