Feburary 21 2025 - St. Peter Damian - Two wolves (school mass)

 There is an old Cherokee tale about a grandfather telling his grandson about the battle that takes place within each of us.

“My dear one,” said the grandfather” there is a battle within each of us between two wolves: The first wolf is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other wolf is good. It is: joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a moment and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee replied, “It depends on the one you feed.”

This simple but powerful story beautifully illustrates the struggle between good and evil inclinations within the human heart—something that the Church’s saints knew all too well. St. Peter Damian, whose feast we celebrate, spent his life recognizing the reality of these “two wolves” at war within him. Even as a brilliant thinker, writer, and monk, he acknowledged his own capacity for what he called “evil passions.” Rather than letting the “evil wolf” grow stronger through selfish desires, he chose the path of mortification and disciplined prayer, seeking to “feed” virtues like humility, obedience, and compassion.

St. Peter Damian fasted, prayed, and even undertook physical disciplines—not because he believed his body was evil, but because he wanted to train his heart to pursue what is good. He understood that the mind and body influence each other. By curbing his worldly impulses and offering small sacrifices to God, he directed his energy toward holiness rather than vanity.

In art, he is often depicted with a leather strap or whip to symbolize his desire of restraining the evil wolf---restraining and purifying his desires, so that the “good wolf”—love of God, fidelity, and charity—might flourish.

For us, the example is clear: we all face a daily choice of which “wolf” to feed. Will we indulge anger, greed, and pride? Or will we practice prayer, generosity, and kindness? St. Peter Damian’s life reminds us that true holiness is not an accident; it requires active cooperation with God’s grace and a decisive effort to nurture virtue over vice. Through prayer, study, asceticism, and works of mercy, we starve those destructive tendencies and allow the “good wolf” to thrive, leading us closer to Christ and deeper into the fullness of His love for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate the feast of St. Peter Damian—bishop, monk, reformer, and Doctor of the Church—we turn to God in humble prayer, asking for the grace to follow his example of holiness and service.

For the Church: That, inspired by the lives and writings of the saints, all members of the Church may grow in holiness and strive for ever greater fidelity to the Gospel.

For religious communities and monastic orders: That they may continue to be beacons of prayer, self-discipline, and service, modeling for all believers a life consecrated to God.

For all who suffer from insomnia or other ailments that disrupt rest and peace: Through the intercession of St. Peter Damian, may they receive the grace of healing, trust in God’s presence, and relief from their burdens.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life: That those called to serve may respond generously, offering their lives for the mission of Christ.

For the sick, the lonely, and those in need: that they may be open to the healing and strength that comes from a relationship of deep faith in God. And we pray in a special way for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in this time of serious illness.

For our deceased loved ones: That they may behold the Lord fully in the eternal light of heaven, seeing Him face to face and rejoicing in His presence.

Almighty God, you raised up St. Peter Damian as a model of holiness. Hear our prayers, and grant us the grace to follow his example of prayer, penance, and zealous love for your people.

July 30 2024 - St. Peter Chrysologus - Importance of Christian study

 On July 20, the church celebrates the feast of St. Apollonaris, who was bishop of the Italian diocese of Ravenna when he was martyred in 79 AD. Today, 10 days later, we celebrate the feast of another bishop of Ravenna, Italy living about 400 years later, St. Peter Chrysologus, whose name means “golden words”. 

Bishop Peter of the golden words was known for his elegant homilies, over 150 of which have survived and continue to speak to us today. His insightful words attest to the early Church's beliefs on a number of topics including Mary's perpetual virginity, the powerful value of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Christ's Eucharistic presence, and the role and primacy of the Pope.

In his sermons, he preached against the Pagan errors that were seeking to corrupt the Christian faith; he urged his flock to receive Holy Communion frequently, helped them to apply the moral teachings of Christ to their daily lives, and urged a special care of the poor.

The sainted bishop considered learning as an obligation for everyone. To help develop our God-given intellectual faculties and to deepen our understanding of the faith, each Christian should seek to understand the Christian faith to the extent that our intellect allows. 

Personal study and group study of scripture and doctrine and theology can not only deepen our appreciation of our faith, it can help us to live it, and spread it. Study can help us be vigilant against error and help us deliver others from error. 

In the Gospel, the Lord explains how “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;”, well we need to store up goodness in our heart through study of our faith. To grow in authentic knowledge and understanding is to grow in goodness.

We live in an age of abundant access to resources that can help deepen our faith. Podcasts, videos, apps, online bible studies, websites dedicated to Christian faith formation are at literally at our fingertips. But still, study takes discipline. 

If our words are to become golden, they must be refined in the fire of truth and tempered by the hammer of discipline. 

Through the intercession of St. Peter Chrysologus, may our faith, hope, and love be deepened, perfected and shared for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For all bishops and priests and all preachers of the faith, that they may be gifted with eloquence and conviction to preach the Gospel effectively and lead their flocks to deeper faith, let us pray to the Lord.

For all Christians, that we may embrace the obligation to learn and grow in our faith, making use of the abundant resources available to us, let us pray to the Lord.

For theologians and religious educators, that they may be inspired by St. Peter Chrysologus to help others understand and apply the teachings of Christ in their daily lives, and for those who struggle with doubts or are tempted by errors contrary to the faith, that they may be guided to the fullness of truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For an increase in devotion to the Eucharist among all the faithful, a greater commitment to the works of mercy, especially care for the poor, and for the grace to practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving with renewed fervor. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of human trafficking, natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for the unborn, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Priest: Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. Peter Chrysologus, hear the prayers we bring before you. Grant us the grace to grow in wisdom and understanding, in order to serve you more faithfully on earth and so win a greater share of glory in heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2023 - Father's Day lessons from Pope Francis

 Happy Father’s Day (weekend). There was a book published a few years ago, called “Our Father: Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer by Pope Francis”. And the book contains a conversation between Holy Father Francis and an Italian priest and prison chaplain named Father Marco Pozza. 

And in this conversation, Pope Francis offers his insight into the words that our Blessed Lord taught us to pray. What it means to call upon God the Father, and so on. But, he also reflected upon the importance of our earthly fathers. And I think it significant that Pope Francis has this conversation with a prison chaplain. Because so many of the imprisoned—in Italy, in the united states, and around the world, are men and women, who more than often have very broken relationships with their earthly fathers. 

Statistics are abundantly clear: when a child is raised without a father there is a greater risk of behavioral problems; they are more likely to commit a crime and go to prison. They are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, more likely to suffer obesity, more likely to drop out of school, and to experience poverty. Teen girls without fathers are 7x more likely to get pregnant as a teen.

On the other hand fathers involved in their children’s lives improve their children’s overall emotional and social well-being, those kids do better in school, they are less likely to carry guns and deal drugs. Good fathers reduce the parenting stress of the mothers. Fathers help their children to be honest, ethical, hardworking adults. 

The impact on religious life is also striking. Data shows if a father does not go to church, even if his wife does, only 1 child in 50 will become a regular church goer. But, if a father does go regularly, regardless of what the mother does, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will attend church as adults. 

Raising a family in today’s culture us tremendously challenging. So in the course of his conversation with that prison chaplain, Pope Francis offered five pieces of wisdom, which I will now share. 

“The first thing needed is this,” Pope Francis said, “that the father be present in the family; that he be close to his wife, to share everything, joys and sorrows, hardships and hopes. A father needs to be close to the children as they grow up; when they are playing and when they are working on a task; when they are carefree and when they are troubled.”

Presence. Closeness. Earthly fatherhood is to be a reflection of the Heavenly Father, and scripture speaks over and over of God’s closeness to his people. Deuteronomy asks, “what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?” Psalm 16 says, “Because God is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” And Psalm 145 says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” Hebrews says, God will NEVER leave us or forsake us. So, earthly fathers must be involved, be near, and be present in all of those family activities and tasks. After a long grueling day at work, it is difficult to be “emotionally present” to one’s family. But’s it vital. 

Secondly, Pope Francis explains that God the Father gives earthly fathers an example to follow in patience. God loves us even when we are sinners, Paul says in the second reading today. And so Fathers have to be patient,” he explained. Love is patient. Children really can test one’s patience. But as Scripture says “God is slow to anger…so Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger dwells in the heart of fools.” Learn to count to 10 and inwardly ask, “Is what I’m about to do or say going to help my kid or hurt my kid emotionally?”

And many times, the Pope admits, “there is nothing that can be done, like the father in the story of the Prodigal son, but wait in patience, kindness, generosity, and mercy, and pray.”

Now, patience doesn’t mean you aren’t to discipline your children. And that’s the third word of wisdom, Pope Francis says discipline, but don’t humiliate.  Scriptures says, “do not fail to correct your children…a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother” Children who are not disciplined often grow up rebellious, have no respect for authority, and as a result find it difficult to willingly obey and follow God. God Himself uses discipline to correct us and lead us down the right path and to encourage repentance for our wrong actions. Hebrews says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” 

Fourthly, Pope Francis explains that Father’s need to be a source of comfort in their children’s failures. “Children need to find a father who is waiting for them when they return from their failures. These children will do all they can in order not to admit their mistakes, not to let their embarrassment show, but they need this security. Not finding their father at the door opens wounds inside them that are difficult to heal.” Let your children know that they can come to you in their failures: business failures, relationship failures, moral failures. That you will help them overcome their challenges and to learn wisdom from their failures.

Finally, the Pope reminds earthly Fathers to have constant recourse to the heavenly Father in prayer and the practice of religion. “Without the grace that comes from the Father who is in Heaven,” the Pope says, “fathers lose courage and abandon the field.” Fathers please speak to your children about the importance of Faith. Tell them why you go to Church. Why you receive Holy Communion. How Catholicism is indispensable. 

Fathers, when the grace of God is evident in your life, that touches the hearts of your children like nothing else in this life. Your witness, your faith is indispensable, irreplaceable. The Pope says, “The Church, our mother, is committed to supporting the good and generous presence of fathers in families. Fathers: you are in our prayers, for your vocation is vital.

In the Gospel, we heard how “at the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” So many in the world today are troubled and abandoned--fatherless. Perhaps, some of you have wounds of abandonment--physical or emotional. And the Lord looks upon all the abandoned and offers the healing of his sacred heart, and calls all the abandoned to mercy.

But the Lord sends us out as laborers, just like he did the apostles, to the troubled and abandoned of the world: to bring God’s love, God’s healing, God’s grace, the message of the Gospel, to be baptized, to have faith in Christ, to receive his body and blood. May we be generous and faithful in this holy calling of ours, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

Feast of the Holy Family (EF) 2023 - BXVI and the School of the House of Nazareth

 

Happy Feast of the Holy Family. "The house of Nazareth", Pope Benedict wrote, "is a school of prayer where one learns to listen, meditate on and penetrate the profound meaning of the manifestation of the Son of God." And so In light of Pope Emeritus Benedict’s recent passing, let us allow the great Pope Benedict to take us to school. 

He writes, at the school of the Holy Family, we learn that we must develop “spiritual discipline if we wish to follow the teaching of the Gospel and become disciples of Christ”.  Notice, how the holy father connects discipline and discipleship. We cannot have discipleship without discipline. In our prayer lives, that means developing and sticking to a routine, a habit of prayer, no matter how we feel, marking the hours of the day, the household duties, the meals, rising and waking, with prayer, praying perhaps before speaking when a conflict arises, praying in times of great joy—turning as a family, to the holy family for blessings and graces and guidance.

Pope Benedict writes, that we must learn also from the Holy Family’s practice of silence. “Silence”, he says, “is the wonderful and indispensable spiritual atmosphere, in which the Word can be reborn within us! Whereas we are deafened by the noise and discordant voices in the frenetic, turbulent life of our time. O silence of Nazareth! He prays, teach us to be steadfast in good thoughts, attentive to our inner life, ready to hear God’s hidden inspiration clearly and the exhortations of true teachers” 

Our day, like the day of the holy family, should be infused with silence.

It’s in silence, that we like Our Lady are able to cherish and ponder Christ. He writes, “Mary was a peerless model of the contemplation of Christ. The face of the Son belonged to her in a special way because he had been knit together in her womb and had taken a human likeness from her. No one has contemplated Jesus as diligently as Mary. The gaze of her heart was already focused on him at the moment of the Annunciation, when she conceived him through the action of the Holy Spirit; in the following months she gradually became [more deeply] aware of his presence, until, on the day of his birth, her eyes could look with motherly tenderness upon the face of her son as she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger.

Memories of Jesus, imprinted on her mind and on her heart, marked every instant of Mary’s existence. She lived with her eyes fixed on Christ and cherished his every word. St Luke says: “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (as we heard in the Gospel today) and thus describes Mary’s approach to the Mystery of the Incarnation which was to extend throughout her life: keeping these things, pondering on them in her heart. 

St. Joseph too, teaches us. Pope Benedict wrote: Joseph fulfilled every aspect of his paternal role. He must certainly have taught Jesus to pray, together with Mary. In particular Joseph himself must have taken Jesus to the Synagogue for the rites of the Sabbath, as well as to Jerusalem for the great feasts of the people of Israel. Joseph, in accordance with the Jewish tradition, would have led the prayers at home both every day — in the morning, in the evening, at meals — and on the principal religious feasts. In the rhythm of the days he spent at Nazareth, in the simple home and in Joseph’s workshop, Jesus learned to alternate prayer and work, as well as to offer God his labour in earning the bread the family needed.

Pope Benedict draws several lessons in particular from today’s Gospel. He writes, “Jewish families, like Christian families, pray in the intimacy of the home but they also pray together with the community, recognizing that they belong to the People of God, journeying on; and the pilgrimage expresses exactly this state of the People of God on the move (journeying to God together).” So vibrant personal prayer lives, contemplating the face of Christ, cherishing christ in our hearts like our Lady, is important. Ordering our family life, our professional life in a godly way, and infusing them with prayer, like St. Joseph is indispensable. But also the Holy Family models communal prayer. Our corporate worship together as the family of God, the Church, is so powerful and essential to who we are. We join together in prayer at holy Mass, a foretaste of the saint’s communal worship of God in heaven. 

But then, the Holy Father draws our attention to the words of Jesus in the Gospel. They are first words of Our Lord recorded in the Gospels, and Benedict writes, After three days spent looking for him his parents found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (cf. 2:46). His answer to the question of why he had done this to mary and joseph was that he had only done what the Son should do, that is, to be with his Father. “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Benedict says, “note the resonance that hearing this word “Father” on Jesus’ lips must have had in the hearts of Mary and Joseph…We may imagine that from this time the life of the Holy Family must have been even fuller of prayer since from the heart of Jesus the boy — then an adolescent and a young man — this deep meaning of the relationship with God the Father would not cease to spread and to be echoed in the hearts of Mary and Joseph…The Family of Nazareth became the first model of the Church in which, around the presence of Jesus and through his mediation, everyone experiences the filial relationship with God the Father which also transforms interpersonal, human relationships.”

The dear departed Pope Benedict knew the important of Christians families looking to and modeling their family life after the Holy Family. He wrote, “the Holy Family is the icon of the domestic Church, called to pray together. The family is the domestic Church and must be the first school of prayer. It is in the family that children, from the tenderest age, can learn to perceive the meaning of God, also thanks to the teaching and example of their parents: to live in an atmosphere marked by God’s presence.”

May the Holy Family guide and protect us always, and may the soul of God’s servant, Pope Benedict XVI, through the mercy of God rest in peace, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

A reading from the epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians

Brethren: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,  if one has a grievance against another;  as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple,  sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

30th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - The Narrow Gate

 When asked about how many will be saved the Lord responded, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate”. 

In Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord says something similar. He says, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

The narrow way is one of effort rather than ease—work and toil, rather than sloth. Hesiod, the old Greek poet writes: “Wickedness can be had in abundance easily; smooth is the road, and very nigh she dwells; but in front of virtue the gods immortal have put sweat.’ When the Lord says, “strive” to enter heaven, the Greek word is agonozomai—agonize. Heaven needs to be sought with struggle and strain, like an athlete straining toward the finish line, all muscles taut and “giving his all” in the effort.

And that means the narrow way is one of discipline and self-control rather than undiscipline and indulgence. Many fail to achieve something of substance in their careers or in the earthly realm because they abandon discipline—they let themselves go. And the same is true for the spiritual life. St. Peter writes, “the end of all things is at hand, so be self-controlled and sober-minded”.  St. Paul writes to Timothy, “Train yourselves for godliness”. Training requires discipline—sticking to the regiment of prayer, study and good works, when the temptations of the world beckon for our attention. 

And that means the narrow way is also one of discernment rather than thoughtlessness. We must discern what is good with the help of God. Not everything that glitters is gold. Not every path leads to heaven. So we must be discerning, learning to distinguish good from evil, learning to see through the tricks and illusions of the devil and the world.

For the narrow way is also one of detachment from the works of the devil, including seeking conversion from habitual sin. Entering the narrow gate requires us to change.  We are cling to habits and attitudes that have no place in heaven, and should have no place in our earthly life: our grudges, our resentments, our perversions, our fears of suffering to obtain what is good.  We must let go of all that keeps us from following Christ more wholeheartedly.  

With God’s help, may we strive to enter the narrow gate, through effort, discipline, discernment, detachment and the help of grace, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the conversion of unbelievers, the sanctification of the faithful; for all hearts to be more receptive to Christ’s Gospel.

That government leaders at every level may be free of corruption and work for common good.

During this month of October may souls increase in faith, hope, and love through newfound devotion to Our Lady’s Rosary.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease; for those overwhelmed by life’s burdens; for the grieving and the fearful.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish; for deceased parishioner Kenneth Casey who died last week, for all of the poor souls in purgatory.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

Friday after Ash Wednesday 2022 - The days are coming when my disciples will fast

 

“The days are coming when my disciples will fast”, well, here they are. Before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the entire season of Lent was a time of rigorous fasting for all adult Catholics: no eating between meals, and two smaller meals not adding up to the main meal of the day.   And throughout the whole year, Catholics were to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.  

After Vatican II, these disciplines changed.  The abstaining from meat on Fridays throughout the year may now be substituted with some other penitential practice, though Fridays during Lent are still days of abstinence from meat.  And we have only two mandated fast days to observe: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

The practice of fasting goes far back into our biblical roots.  The Old Testament shows people fasting as a sign of repentance and desire for conversion. The Jews even had days of fasting: “Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast” we heard from the prophet Joel on Ash Wednesday.

The New Testament also recommends the practice. “Some demons are driven out only by prayer and fasting” the Lord tells his disciples. And on Ash Wednesday, we heard the Lord say, “when you fast” you shouldn’t do so for outward appearances, but for interior renewal. When St. Paul was strike blind, he fasted for three days. The Lord Himself, as we’ll hear this Sunday, fasted for forty days.

Fasting for Christians isn’t just a sort of religious weight loss program.  We don’t fast simply for the purpose of reducing our waist size, though that is always a pleasant result of this spiritual practice.

Fasting is a spiritual self-discipline that makes us conscious of our dependence on God.  We voluntarily experience physical hunger in order to become aware of our true spiritual hunger.  That the deepest hunger of the human soul comes for the peace and joy and life that can only be satisfied by communion with God.

Another reason we fast is to subdue our passions and self-will; to discipline our unruly appetites. If we cannot control our stomach, how can we control our urges for pleasure, money, and power?  

Fasting opens our heart to charity.  Listen again to the Prophet Isaiah this morning: “This, rather, is the fasting, that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the throngs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”

May we take seriously the call to fasting this Lent, that our minds and hearts may be conformed ever more deeply to Christ, and be made ready for the feast of Eternal Easter, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.

August 8, 2017 - St. Dominic - Prayer and Contemplative Study

Listen again to the entrance antiphon for today, the memorial of St. Dominic: “In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory”.  These words, taken from the book of Sirach, wonderfully describe today’s great Saint.

Dominic certainly “opened his mouth” and spoke words of wisdom. He is the founder of the Order of Preachers. The Collect even called Dominic “an outstanding preacher” of the Lord’s Truth. It is said the primary work of the Dominican Order is “to preach the gospel for the salvation of souls.”

This is certainly the task of all Christians: to preach the Gospel for the salvation of souls. What can we learn from St. Dominic and the Order of Preachers to help us in our task?

Dominican preaching is fueled and nurtured particularly by prayer and contemplative study.

By prayer, the Dominican immerses himself in the life of God through personal meditation, celebration of Mass, recitation of the liturgy of the hours, and of course, the rosary. An early Dominican document even details St. Dominic’s private prayer. When Dominic prayed, he would incline profoundly, prostrate his body upon the ground, genuflect, beat his breast, raise his arms to heaven. He would pray standing, sitting, kneeling, prostrating, walking, Dominic employed all these as postures when praying. For Dominic, prayer was not just a mental activity or exercise, but an intimate, personal conversation with God in which he would engage his whole person—body, spirit, mind, and soul. For the preaching of the Gospel, God wants to use all of us, our whole life, our whole self, our creativity, our past memories, our present struggles. And so we should seek the sort of prayer life, that truly nurtures us in the Christian life.

The Dominican life is also supported by study. When we think of study, images of boring classrooms or abstract discussions may naturally come to mind. But in the context of Dominican life, study leads to prayer, which inspires the preaching of the gospel. Dominic exhorted his brothers to be fervent in cultivating both the attitude of discovery and the discipline of inquiry. The Dominican father, St. Thomas Aquinas puts it well when he writes that the Dominican life is characterized as contemplation of divine things and the divine One and then sharing these fruits of contemplation with others.

As Christians, we should never stop learning and studying our faith, never stop seeking and studying the face of Christ in the Sacred Scriptures. There is always something to discover about our faith, for there is always something to discover about Our Lord. And there should be an element of discipline, that we simply don’t jump from one novelty to the next, but truly enter into the mysteries we contemplate.

Through prayer, and study, may we, like St. Dominic, we filled with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and come to be, like him, robed in glory, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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For a deeper devotion among all Christians to prayer and contemplative study of the Sacred Mysteries.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, for Order of Preachers, and that we may all be dedicated to preaching the gospel for the salvation of souls.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of August: “That artists of our time, through their ingenuity, may help everyone discover the beauty of creation.” We pray to the Lord.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. We pray.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests, religious, especially for all deceased Dominicans who have served our local Church, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.