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.