Dies Irae

November 8th is the day on which the Order of Preachers remembers and prays for its deceased members. Today at 7:00 p.m. the Bl. Margaret of Castello chapter will recite the Office of the Dead (Vespers) for deceased Dominicans in the day chapel at St. John's Cathedral in Boise. We will begin by chanting Dies Irae (though we don't expect to sound anything like the men and boys' choir in this video).

Dies Irae is the traditional sequence of the Requiem Mass. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Latin poetry; its beauty is apparent even to those of us who have very little Latin.

St. Thomas More teaches that meditation on the Four Last Things (Death, Judgment, Hell, Heaven) is a first-class remedy against sin. Dies Irae, rich in food for such meditation, has unfortunately been squelched in the Ordinary Rite by those who (unjustly) consider it morbid; but since it survives in the 1962 Missal, the door is open for its comeback.

Nun the Worse

Let's see now...

ITEM: With the support of her prioress, a Dominican sister has aided and abetted abortion by escorting women past demonstrators into abortion mill

ITEM: Three elderly nuns, along with two priests, burglarize a naval base near Seattle in order to brandish kindergarten scribblegrams and scatter sunflower seeds in protest of nukes

ITEM: A nationally known Benedictine nun writes inane columns for an infamous liberal rag

ITEM: A significant number of women religious regularly assemble, in various groups, for the purpose of promoting dissent from the Magisterium

ITEM: The number of women religious declined 54% between 1965 and 2000

So what is the point of the apostolic visitation?

It's Out! (Almost!)

Fr. Philip Neri Powell's book is out on Friday! Click the pic for a link to sample pages of Treasures Old and New: Traditional Prayers for Today's Catholics (Liguori Press).

The profits from his book go to his Dominican province. He doesn't happen to be in my province, but hey, we can't all be perfect.

August 9th: Three Martyrs of the 20th Century

In the Third Secret of Fatima, the Blessed Mother gave the children of Fatima a preview of the horrors that lay in store for the world, and especially the Church, if people continued to refuse to reform their lives and do penance for sin. We know that Our Lady's message went unheeded, and the result was the bloodiest century in human history. But God raised up saints amid the wrack and ruin, and on August 9th, the Church remembers three of them.

St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) (1891-1942)

Edith Stein was born in Breslau in 1891 during the festival of Yom Kippur. She was raised up in the Jewish faith, which she abandoned at the age of 13. Possessed of a brilliant intellect, she earned her doctorate in philosophy from the University of Göttingen at the age of 25. The witness of her Catholic friends awakened in her an interest in the Catholic faith; after several years of reading and study, she accepted Baptism in 1922.

From afar, Edith Stein discerned the fate that awaited her people at the hands of the Nazis. In 1933, she wrote: "I had heard of severe measures against Jews before. But now it dawned on me that God had laid his hand heavily on His people, and that the destiny of these people would also be mine." Six years later, in her last will and testament, the child who had been born on the Day of Atonement would offer herself up for the sake of atonement: "Even now I accept the death that God has prepared for me in complete submission and with joy as being his most holy will for me. I ask the Lord to accept my life and my death...so that the Lord will be accepted by His people and that His Kingdom may come in glory, for the salvation of Germany and the peace of the world."

In 1934, Edith Stein entered the Carmel and took the name Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. Anti-Semitic legislation forced her to give up her teaching career; in 1938, her order smuggled her out to the Netherlands. However, there the Nazis eventually caught up to her and her sister Rose (also a convert). In his homily on the occasion of her canonization, Pope John Paul II recounts how, just before her deportation, the saint dismissed the idea of being rescued: "Do not do it! Why should I be spared? Is it not right that I should gain no advantage from my Baptism? If I cannot share the lot of my brothers and sisters, my life, in a certain sense, is destroyed."

On August 9, 1942, God accepted the oblation that St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross had offered up four years earlier. On that day, she and her sister Rose were murdered in the gas chamber at Auschwitz. She was beatified on May 1, 1987 and canonized on October 11, 1998.

Bl. Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943)

Bl. Franz has appeared in this space before -- once on the occasion of his beatification in 2007 and once in response to shrill demands that the Pope apologize on behalf of the Catholic Church for the Holocaust. But to truly appreciate the heroism of this humble, uneducated Austrian farmer -- inspired in part by the example of St. Thomas More, who struggled under similar circumstances -- it is necessary to understand how utterly alone he was in his decision to die rather than fight for the Nazi regime. Chris Gillibrand has his story in two parts at Catholic Church Conservation. It is a must-read.

Bl. Ceferino Jimenez Malla, OPL (1861-1936)

Bl. Ceferino was born in 1861 in Catalonia, Spain, the son of Gypsies. Although he had very little education, he possessed a sharp intellect and was a very successful businessman, and even served as a city councilman. He married late in life, and adopted a niece as his own daughter. He accepted Baptism as an adult, and was active in his parish as a catechist, choir director and Rosary leader. In 1926, he became a Third Order Dominican. Bl. Ceferino's sanctity was such that people always made sure to be on their best behavior in his presence.

Bl. Ceferino was arrested for hiding priests during the Spanish Civil War, and was offered clemency if he would throw away his rosary and renounce the Catholic faith. He refused to do so. On August 8, 1936, he was murdered by firing squad. He was beatified on May 4, 1997 by Pope John Paul II -- the first Gypsy to be so honored by the Church.

August 8th: Feast of St. Dominic

The Litany of St. Dominic

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God...

Queen of the Holy Rosary...

Our glorious father, St. Dominic...

St. Dominic, follower of Jesus Christ...

St. Dominic, eminently endowed with the virtues of His Sacred Heart...

St. Dominic, adorer of the Blessed Sacrament...

St. Dominic, singularly devoted to our Blessed Lady...

St. Dominic, promoter of her honor...

St. Dominic, promulgator of the Holy Rosary...

St. Dominic, splendor of the priesthood...

St. Dominic, founder of the Friars Preachers...

St. Dominic, apostle of the Albigenses...

St. Dominic, mirror of ecclesiastical discipline...

St. Dominic, rose of patience...

St. Dominic, most ardent for the salvation of souls...

St. Dominic, most desirous of martyrdom...

St. Dominic, evangelical man...

St. Dominic, doctor of truth...

St. Dominic, ivory of chastity...

St. Dominic, man of truly apostolic heart...

St. Dominic, poor in the midst of riches...

St. Dominic, rich in an unspotted life...

St. Dominic, burning with zeal for perishing souls...

St. Dominic, preacher of the Gospel...

St. Dominic, rule of abstinence...

St. Dominic, herald of heavenly things...

St. Dominic, salt of the earth...

St. Dominic, who didst water the earth with thy blood...

St. Dominic, shining in the choir of virgins...

St. Dominic, most humble...

St. Dominic, most obedient...

St. Dominic, most chaste...

St. Dominic, most charitable...

That at the hour of death we may be received unto heaven with thee...
Be merciful unto us, O Lord, and pardon us.

Be merciful unto us, O Lord, and graciously hear us.
From all sin and evil, Deliver us, O Lord.

From the snares of the devil...

From eternal death...

By the merits of our holy father, St. Dominic...

By his ardent love...

By his indefatigable zeal...

By his extraordinary labors...

By his inexpressible penances...

By his voluntary poverty...

By his perpetual chastity...

By his perfect obedience...

By his profound humility...

By his rare constancy...

By all his other virtues...
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O blessed father Dominic,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may enjoy continual health of mind and body and that through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and hereafter enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

MORE PRAYERS TO ST. DOMINIC

Novena to St. Dominic
Chaplet of St. Dominic ("Cry of Anguish")
Ejaculations to St. Dominic

Not to mention...the Dominican Litany of Saints

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Nine

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, which just happens to be today. Happy Feast of St. Dominic!

Ninth Day: Devotion to St. Dominic

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.

"This is My covenant with them, saith the Lord: My spirit that is in thee, and My words that I have put in thy mouth, not out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth, now and for ever" (Isa. LIX, 21.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

MIRACLES OF ST. DOMINIC

The power of St. Dominic's prayer was marvelous, and his charity made him use it to help others. In 1206, to test the truth, the Albigenses cast two books into the flames. Theirs, containing their heresy, was destroyed; Dominic's contained the Catholic faith, and remained unburnt. Once his books fell into a river and were restored to him uninjured. Crossing a ferry, he had no money, and the man insisting on payment, Dominic prayed, and money lay at his feet. On a journey he accompanied a foreign religious, whose language he did not understand; Dominic's prayer enabled them to converse on spiritual subjects. Forty English, upset in a deep river, were drowning; Dominic prayed, and they were saved. Three dead persons he raised to life in Rome. One, a cardinal's nephew, was killed by a fall from his horse; Dominic said Mass with abundant tears, then, standing by the dead man's head, he was raised in the air a cubit high, and crying, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise!" the dead man rose alive and well. By prayer he drove out devils and cured many sick. Food was brought by angels at his prayer, and wine to refresh his brethren. Many heretics and sinners were converted by his powerful prayers.

"Be ye therefore followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (I Cor. xi, I.)

Responsory

O wondrous hope, which our true father gave,
When round his dying bed the weeping brethren knelt --
That he would stronger be, to succor and to save,
From heaven above, than when on earth he dwelt:
Fulfill, O father, thy most gracious word,
And plead for us with Christ, thy Friend and Lord!
V. Thou, who from suffering men diseases fell didst chase,
Bring to our sin-sick souls the balm of Christ's sweet grace.
R. Fulfill, O father, thy most gracious word, And plead for us with Christ, thy Friend and Lord!
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Fulfill, O father, thy most gracious word, And plead for us with Christ, thy Friend and Lord!
V. Pray for us, O holy father, St. Dominic.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who are weighed down by the burden of our sins, may be raised up by the intercession of Blessed Dominic, Thy confessor and our father. Through 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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Eight

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.

Eighth Day: The Death of St. Dominic

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.

"Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord." (St. Matt. XXV, 21.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

St. Dominic died at Bologna, in 1221, on Friday, August 6, at mid-day. Father Ventura, Prior of Bologna, was present and thus describes the blessed end of that holy life. "Father Dominic returned from Venice about the end of July. Although very weary with traveling, he conversed on the affairs of the Order with me till late. I begged him to rest that night but he prayed in the church till Matins at midnight, and then was present in choir. Afterwards he complained of his head, and his last illness began. Lying on a straw mattress, he called the novices around him and exhorted them to fervor with cheerful words and smiling countenance. After being carried to a hill not far off, for better air, he preached a touching sermon to the brethren and was then anointed. Fearing lest he might not be buried 'under the feet of his brethren,' he was carried back to the convent. After an hour he said, 'Begin.' Then did we begin the prayers for a departing soul, and Dominic joined, his lips moving, until the words 'Help him, ye saints of God,' when he gave up the spirit." During the same year in winter a marvelous perfume was perceived throughout the church in which he was buried, particularly near his grave. Many miracles were wrought where the sacred body rested.

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love Him." (I Cor. II, 9.)

Responsory

From this vale of grief, ascending,
See our father rise on high,
Whilst the angels' voices, blending,
Greet him with sweet minstrelsy.
Jesu, by his prayers of might,
Make us pleasing in Thy sight!
V. By the Holy Name of Jesus.
Thou didst raise the dead to life;
Now, through Him, our loving Savior,
Loose our souls from sin and strife.
R. Jesu, by his prayers of might, Make us pleasing in Thy sight!
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Jesu, by his prayers of might, Make us pleasing in Thy sight!
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 most kind father, St. Dominic, by thy saintly life and precious death, bless and guide us in the path of thy holy rule, that persevering therein even until death, we may, through it, attain the eternal joys of heaven. Through 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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Seven

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.

Seventh Day: Love of God and Our Neighbor

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.

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loes not abides in death. In this we have known the charity of God, because He hath laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (I St. John, III, 14-16.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

Love is the fulfilling of the law, and Dominic, the preacher of God's law, was consumed with the fire of love. In all his actions his love for God appeared, and his constant prayer was that he might have true charity and love God purely for His own sake. From this love sprang that ardent desire to suffer for God which made him a martyr in spirit. So deeply was he moved by the love of Jesus Crucified that he longed to die for Him. His life of generous self-sacrifice proved his love sincere. As a youth he sold his only treasure -- the books from which he studied -- to feed the famine-stricken poor. His life was entirely devoted to the hardest apostolic labor, traveling on foot far and wide to seek the lost sheep of the Good Shepherd and braving every kind of danger. His prayers for souls were continual, and daily his blood flowed in penance for their sins. The one object of his Order was the salvation of souls. Throughout life he longed to preach to the heathen, hoping for martyrdom. His compassion was so tender that he was moved to tears whenever he thought of the sufferings and miseries of others. To all he was gentle, sweet and merciful. Twice he desired to be sold into slavery -- once to redeem a widow's son, and once to relieve poverty caused by conversion to the Catholic Church.

The true love of God is proved by the desire to be like Christ, and to labor and suffer for others.

"Every one that loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God. For God is charity." (I John IV, 7-8.)

Responsory

O happy, glorious vine, whose living sap o'erflowing,
Hath fertilized the world, on all men life bestowing:
A consecrated vessel, replete with heavenly wine,
Thou offerest to all mankind, the cup of grace divine.
V. Thy fruitful branches circle
Our great world all around,
And, ever, sweet new tendrils
Are springing o'er the ground.
R. A consecrated vessel, replete with heavenly wine, Thou offerest to all mankind, the cup of grace divine.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. A consecrated vessel, replete with heavenly wine, Thou offerest to all mankind, the cup of grace divine.
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 holy father, St. Dominic, who didst show us the way to eternal happiness, and didst win many souls to God by founding the Order of Friars Preachers, pray for us, that we may follow in thy footsteps, and ever work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Through 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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Six

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.

Sixth Day: Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady

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.

"How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God; for the sparrow hath found herself a house and the turtle a nest for herself where she may lay her young. Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God!" (Ps. LXXXIII, 2-4.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

The adorable Eucharist and the holy Mother of God were objects of Dominic's tenderest devotion. His lively faith made the altar his paradise. Before the tabernacle he spent his nights, finding there rest after his labors; and arriving weary and footsore from a journey, he always visited the Blessed Sacrament before refreshing his body. However much fatigued, he always celebrated Mass, if possible singing it, and during the Sacrifice tears flowed in streams down his face, moving all present to devotion. "Never," said Stephen of Lombardy, "do I remember his celebrating without tears." Sometimes at the elevation his body rose visibly in the air. Of God's holy Mother he was always an ardent and reverent lover. His life, his work, his Order were placed under her protection, and he invoked her in every difficulty and danger. He began the custom of saying the "Hail Mary" before preaching. She filled him with heavenly favors, watched over him with motherly care, and gave the habit of his Order. A tradition cherished in his Order, and supported by the testimonies of many popes, ascribes to him the first teaching of the Rosary. The sweet and tender Mother often appeared to him and consoled him at the hour of earth. His disciples were called "Friars of Mary," and have carried her rosary and scapular to the uttermost parts of the earth.

"I am the Bread of Life; he that cometh to Me shall not hunger and he that believeth in Me shall never thirst." (St. John VI, 35.)

"I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits." (Ecclus.XXIV, 24-26.)

Responsory

The chaff of human frailty
Threshed out by holy poverty,
The good seed sown
To fruit hath grown,
And, ripe for God, is quickly garnered home.
The virgin's lily shining in his hand,
Amongst the doctors Dominic doth stand.

V. A flower blooming amidst other flowrets fair,
The mighty saint for aye a double crown shall wear.
R. The virgin's lily shining in his hand, Amongst the doctors Dominic doth stand.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. The virgin's lily shining in his hand, Amongst the doctors Dominic doth stand.
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 most blessed father, St. Dominic, who didst love our Lord Jesus Christ in the most perfect manner, and didst serve Mary, His Virgin Mother, with most fervent devotion, pray for us, thy children, that we may ever grow in love of the adorable Sacrament of the altar, and that, next to God, we may at all times trust in the protection of the Queen of Heaven, so that at the hour of death we may be received by her into heaven, and ever abide under the mantle of her love. Through 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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Five

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.

Fifth Day: How to Maintain a Spirit of 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.

"The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and in equity and turned many away from iniquity." (Mal. II, 6.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

As an unbridled tongue destroys a spirit of prayer, Dominic loved silence and retirement, that he might dwell with God. His intimate friend, William of Montserrat, said that "Dominic always kept the silence prescribed by the custom and rule of the Order, abstained from idle words, and always spoke either of God or to God." Seldom speaking of earthly things, his conversation was in heaven, and his heart could freely rest on God. Moreover, he carefully guarded his senses. If others spoke idly, he began to pray. On journeys his eyes were cast down, and he seldom noticed anything as he passed along. He fed his soul with constant spiritual reading. His books were the Bible and Cassian's Conferences of the Fathers of the Desert, and these he read continually from youth till death. The Holy Scriptures he always carried, and ordered his spiritual children diligently and unceasingly to read them. At dinner one religious used to read aloud, that the souls of all might feed on the Word of God. Dominic used to sit alone after dinner reading the Holy Scriptures. He would kiss the sacred volume, sign himself with the Cross, and then read, often with tears, always with many prayers. When ill with fever, lying on a hard rough bed, he asked the brethren to read to him, in turns, the Holy Scriptures.

"If any man offend not in words, the same is a perfect man!" (St. James III, 2.)

Responsory

With wondrous loaves the brethren are fed,
Supplied from heaven at their father's prayers.
A child to life he raises from the dead,
And bids the weeping mother dry her tears.
V. He stays the rainfall with the sign of our salvation;
His words are understood by men of every nation.
R. A child to life he raises from the dead, And bids the weeping mother dry her tears.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. A child to life he raises from the dead, And bids the weeping mother dry her tears.
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 most holy father, St. Dominic, who didst ever show thyself loving to all and didst never despise, wound or offend anyone, obtain for me from our most sweet Savior, Christ, the grace to be severe only to myself and my evil passions and always gentle and loving towards my neighbor, ever, like Him, pardoning all who injure or offend me. 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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Four

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.

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 travelling, 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.

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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Two

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.

Second Day: Humility

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.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross." (Phil. II, 5-8.)

R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

"DOCTOR VERITATIS," DOCTOR OF TRUTH

Humility is the foundation of perfection, and in St. Dominic it was deep and strong. So clear was his knowledge of the deep majesty of God and his own nothingness that he lived always in lowly fear and self-distrust. Though most innocent, he considered himself to be a base sinner, unworthy of the least grace. Constantly he prostrated himself before God, praying for long with his face on the ground, shedding abundant tears. Often he would strike his breast, exclaiming, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Before entering a town to preach, he used to kneel down on the road, begging God not to punish the people for his sins but to make his labor fruitful. When passing an altar or crucifix he would bow profoundly, in token of his nothingness. He often said with tears, "I am not worthy to behold heaven on account of my sins." Praise and honor he heartily detested, and thrice refused a bishopric. Once he raised the son of a Roman widow to life, and the Pope ordered the wonder to be published. "Holy Father," said Dominic, "I must fly; I can remain here no longer." At the General Chapter he said to his brethren, "I deserve to be deposed from my office, for I am negligent and relaxed." When asked where he would be buried, "Under the feet of my brethren," said the humble saint.

The saints, though great in virtue, look upon themselves as worthless, because they see themselves in the light of God, and knowing Him they know themselves. "Our righteousness," St. Dominic would say, "when compared to the righteousness of God, is mere uncleanness."

"Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls." (St. Matthew XI, 29.)

Responsory

Chosen by Christ's free grace, he comes;
For sinner's needs to us he's given.
Called to the work whilst yet unborn,
His advent's marked by signs from heaven.
V. The star upon his infant brow,
Shining with radiance pure and mild,
Reveals the splendor hid within
The spirit of the newborn child.
R. Called to the work whilst yet unborn,
His advent's marked by signs from heaven.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
R. Called to the work whilst yet unborn,
His advent's marked by signs from heaven.
V. Pray for us, O blessed father Dominic.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O holy father, St. Dominic, true lover of humility, who, the greater thou didst appear in the sight of men, didst humble thyself the more before God: be to us a loving guide, that, following in thy footsteps we may be enabled to withstand all the snares of the enemy, and spending our lives in earnest prayer, self-denial and humility, we may, at the hour of death, be received with thee into heaven. Through 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.

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day One

Here's another gem from John Keenan's little treasure chest, Devotions to St. Dominic: a novena in honor of St. Dominic in preparation for his feast day. The book sets the novena to start on July 26th, because it was published at a time when his feast was on August 3rd (which was in fact the date of his death); but since the feast of St. Dominic is now on August 8th, we'll start it today. I'll post an installment each day.

First Day:
The Force of Good Example

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.

"He shone in his days as the morning star, in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full; and as the sun, when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of God." (Ecclus. L, 6, 7)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

LUMEN ECCLESIÆ, LIGHT OF THE CHURCH

St. Dominic was born in Spain, A.D. 1170. With the dawn of reason his whole soul turned to God. His childhood was most pious, and his youth angelic in purity. In the University of Palentia he was the model student. When twenty-five he became a Canon Regular at Osma, and with the religious habit he put on the Lord Jesus Christ and strove in all things to imitate Him. His time was divided into prayer, study of Holy Scripture, and community duties. Silence and retirement were his delight; works of penance and tears of contrition his meat and drink. Going in 1205 to France, he spent many years in every kind of labor for the conversion of the Albigensian heretics. Like Jesus Christ he passed the day in apostolic work, the night in prayer. His penance was extreme, but to others he was gentle, sweet and kind. Many were converted by his miracles, many by the example of his holy life. Six times he journeyed to Rome, once to Spain, once to Paris, walking barefoot, praying or singing on the road, preaching in the towns and villages, spending the nights in contemplation. He founded in 1215 the Order of Friars Preachers for the conversion of souls. He was a man of truly apostolic heart, a column of the faith, a trumpet of the Gospel, the light of Christ to men. He died at Bologna in 1221.

RESPONSORY

The father bids the world prepare
The nuptials of the Lamb to share;
The hour has struck; the Master sends
His faithful servant to His friends.
Rich food of life He offers all,
Who come, responsive to His call.
V. And Dominic His herald names,
Who through the world the feast proclaims.
R. Rich food of life He offers all,
Who come, responsive to His call.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
R. Rich food of life He offers all,
Who come, responsive to His call.
V. Pray for us, O blessed father Dominic.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O most enlightened teacher of divine truth, holy father, St. Dominic, who didst teach what was profitable for salvation and didst make thyself all things to all men, that thou mightest win all things to Christ; help us to close our ears and hearts to all false doctrine and whatever may be hurtful to our souls and to open them joyfully to the truths of Holy Church. Through 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.

Prayers Urgently Requested

Please stop and offer prayer for Kathleen Schuck, OPL, the treasurer of my Lay Dominican Chapter of Bl. Margaret of Castello. Yesterday, although she was in pain, the cause of which was unknown, she was eating barbecue and celebrating with the chapter; today, she is in the hospital, and the doctors say it is very serious.

Prayer to Saint Peregrine

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called "The Mighty," "The Wonder-Worker," because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you.

For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fibre of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favoured with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you.

(Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick for whom you are praying.)

Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy.

Amen.

Treasures Old and New

Fr. Phillip Neri Powell, OP, of Domine, Da Mihi Hanc Aquam!, has a new book out. Treasures Old and New: Traditional Prayers for Today's Catholics comes out September 15th of this year from Liguori Publications.

And speaking of Liguori:

He who prays is certainly saved. He who prays not is certainly damned. All the blessed (except infants) have been saved by prayer. All the damned have been lost through not praying; if they had prayed, they would not have been lost. And this is, and will be, their greatest torment in hell, to think how easily they might have been saved, only by asking God for his grace; but that now it is too late -- the time of prayer is over.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Great Means of Salvation and of Perfection

The Divine Office: A Kit for Beginners

I had a friend mention to me recently that he was interested in praying the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office), but he was frustrated because it is so complicated and he doesn't know where to begin. I know exactly what he means. I had to start reciting the Office when I joined the Third Order Dominicans, and I also found it very frustrating. The Office was simplified after Vatican II, but I still found plenty to complain about.

So for all those out there who are interested in making a habit out of reciting the Office, here's what you need to succeed:

1. A Breviary.

There are one-volume breviaries, but I use the four-volume set, as it is more complete and easier (in my opinion) to use. You can get the whole set, or you can buy it one volume at a time for about $35.00 per volume. If you want to take that approach, we start Volume I on Saturday evening, when the first Sunday of Advent officially begins. Also, you should get a cover for your breviary, with pockets and zippers. Everybody who prays the Office regularly accumulates holy cards, slips of paper, etc. in their breviaries, and the zipper cover keeps all this stuff from falling out.

2. A Cheat Sheet.

This is probably the most important tangible object after the breviary itself. New breviaries usually come with the current one; otherwise, you can pick one up for a couple of bucks. Sometimes the cheat sheet has mistakes in it, but don't concern yourself with that in the beginning. Do not succumb to pride and be ashamed to use a cheating aid: it's more important to do it right than to be an instant master.

3. A Teacher.

The Office is really not that difficult, once you get the hang of it; but you're never going to figure it out on your own. Why? Because, for one thing, you have to skip around a lot in the book, especially on big feast days and solemnities, and you'll get lost without help. Also, the breviary doesn't remind you to do certain things, like saying the "Glory Be" after every psalm and canticle, so you need somebody to point out these things the breviary just assumes you already know to do. Even under The Redoubtable One's tutelage, it still took me a good year to get the hang of the Office, in no small part because I didn't have enough of the next thing you need to become competent at it:

4. Diligence.

You need a lot of stick-to-it-iveness to pray the Office. I frequently got frustrated and gave up for periods of time before I got the hang of the Office, so it's a good thing the Rule of my Order doesn't bind on pain of sin. Do not, however, follow my poor example.

Also, remember that the duties of your state of life come first, even if you are a member of a Third Order. For those of us who live and work in the world, it is not possible to pray all the hours, and we shouldn't try if it conflicts with our responsibilities. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are the two most important hours, so if you plan on saying the Office regularly, try sticking with those. The Rule for Dominican Laity, as applied in my province (the Western Province, Holy Name of Jesus) prescribes Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer to the extent possible. (The Office of Readings may be recited at any hour.)

Good luck in praying the Office, and always remember to seek help when you need it!

Motor Terrae, Solisque Stator

Motor terrae, solisque stator: "he stayed the sun and freed the earth." This motto is applied to Nicholas Copernicus, whose observations of the sun, the moon and the planets gave rise to the revolutionary heliocentric planetary theory, and ultimately laid part of the groundwork for the formation of the Gregorian calendar.

And as a result of checking in with Dr. Ed Peters' canon law blog today, I found out a few more things about Nicholas Copernicus that I had not previously known:

-- Copernicus was a deacon and a canon lawyer. He may have been ordained to the priesthood later in life, but this is not certain.

-- In addition to the foregoing, although he never took a degree in medicine, Copernicus also practiced as a physician, serving the poor at no charge.

-- Biggest surprise of all: according to Catholic Encyclopedia, Copernicus' entire family -- including, presumably, the man himself -- were Third Order Preachers.

Maybe it shouldn't be such a huge surprise after all, inasmuch as the patron saint of astronomers is -- St. Dominic.

October 5: Bl. Bartholomew Longo, OPL

Most people who keep track of these things know that today is the Feast of St. Faustina Kowalska, the Apostle of Divine Mercy through whom we have been given the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It is also the memorial of Bl. Raymond of Capua, Dominican priest, spiritual director of St. Catherine of Siena and Master-General of the Order of Preachers during the late 14th century.

But there is another and quite interesting personage whose memorial is also celebrated today. Venerated by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and beatified in 1980 by Pope John Paul II, Bartholomew Longo led a roller-coaster of a spiritual life. Having started as a devout, Rosary-praying child, he grew up to become a lawyer; in his life beyond his practice, he slid from general dissolution into the occult. From there, he sank into out-and-out Satanism, even becoming a Satanist priest. He eventually emerged from the abyss and attained to heights of sanctity as a Dominican Tertiary.

Read his fascinating story here and here.

Prayer for the Intercession of Bl. Bartholomew Longo
(Who, By the Way, Could Use a Miracle for Canonization)

All-powerful and merciful God, in Blessed Bartolo, a promoter of the rosary of the Blessed Virgin, you showed a wonderful example of holiness and of charity for needy children and orphans. Through his prayers may we learn to see Christ your Son in our neighbors and to love him through them. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Alert: The Fitzpatricks

Please pray for Bonnie and Les Fitzpatrick, OPL, and their family. Bonnie's mother just had a major heart attack, and the outlook is not good.

St. John of God (not pictured to the right; that's El Greco's portrait of St. Dominic)) is the patron of heart patients. Herewith a prayer for his intercession:

Dear Convert, after a sinful life, through the power of God's holy Word you learned to love your fellow human beings. Self-sacrificing, you founded the Society of Hospital Brothers. No wonder the Church made you the patron of patients and nurses. That is why we confidently have recourse to you. Please give assistance to Bonnie's mother, and teach us to be kind like you. Amen.