Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic, Fourth Day: St. Dominic's Prayer

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.

"Be ye filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father. (Eph. V, 18-20.)

R. Thanks be to God.
Spiritual Reading

ST. DOMINIC'S PRAYER

Prayer was the breath of St. Dominic's life, the light on his path, the staff of his pilgrimage. He prayed always. In childhood his delight was to serve Mass, to visit the Blessed Sacrament, and to chant the Office. As a student, he drank in wisdom more from prayer than from books. He won more souls by prayer than by preaching or miracles. Fervent and humble prayer was the sling and stone with which he overthrew the Goliath of heresy. In traveling, always on foot, he prayed as he went, sometimes singing Veni, Creator Spiritus, "Come, O Creator Spirit," or Ave, Maris Stella, "Hail, Star of the Sea," or making earnest ejaculations, or reciting psalms. Sometimes he walked behind his companions, saying, "Let us each think of our Divine Lord," and often they found him kneeling in a thicket of wood, lost in God. His nights were passed before the altar, and his short sleep was taken on the stone pavement, his companions being often awakened by his groans and loud supplications. His methods of prayer were various; sometimes he lay prostrate, then stood erect, then knelt down. For hours he would stand before a Crucifix, genuflecting and making fervent ejaculations. Often he stretched out his arms like a cross, crying earnestly to God. He was often seen raised into the air in rapture by the vehemence of his prayer. "In all labors and disquiets, in hunger, thirst, fatigue, his heart turned always to God."

Responsory

Sublimest heights of poverty he reaches,
And thence against the crimes of men he preaches;
His enemies before him prostrate lie,
Or, breathing vengeance, turn their backs and fly.
The saint, undaunted, fears no earthly foe;
To martyrdom for Christ full gladly would he go.
V. By night his soul in prayer is raised to heaven;
To preach the Master's Word his days are freely given.

R. The saint, undaunted, fears no earthly foe; To martyrdom for Christ full gladly would he go.

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

R. The saint, undaunted, fears no earthly foe; To martyrdom for Christ full gladly would he go.

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 God, Who hast enlightened Thy Church by the eminent virtues and preaching of St. Dominic, Thy confessor and our father, mercifully grant that by his prayers we may be provided against all temporal necessities and ever increase in spiritual good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 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.

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