St. Dominic
A Reflection by S. Karen Vollmer
There’s something about our founder, St. Dominic, which is long lasting and inspiring. Dominicans began the celebration of their 800 year jubilee in 2006 with burning desire to keep alive the passion of Dominic to praise, to bless, and to preach. It has been aptly said that the whole of Dominic’s life was a beacon of praise, a toast to God.
Our inheritance is imbued in contemplative living. For Dominic the resting place for contemplation was not in the temple, the monastery, or the priory but in the Gospel of Jesus. His mission was to spread the fire of God’s love and enlighten the minds and heart of people with truth, God's abiding presence.
It has been recorded that on the feast of Mary Magdalene in 1206, Dominic had a vision which led him to found a convent at Prouille, France, gathering nine women who had been converted from heresy. These women became a powerhouse of prayer and contemplative living as Dominic and his preaching friars, with the scriptures in hand, made their way into the busy market place and in the midst of urban and university settings to speak the message of truth, justice, and peace.
Dominic was confronted by the teachings of the Albigensians. He challenged their rigorous doctrine of belief, a rebirth of Manichean dualism, the claim that there are two ruling powers in the universe, one good and one evil. The Albigensian heresy taught that the material world is evil and created by an evil anti-God, whereas, everything spiritual was created by Good Power. Dominic cherished creation as God’s gift to be reverenced.
When Dominic died in 1221, the brethren buried him, sorrowfully and affectionately, and then got on with the work entrusted to them, the work of preaching. Catherine of Siena is quoted as saying, “the voice of Dominic’s preaching is still heard today and will continue to be heard in the preaching of his followers.”
The Dominican Blessing written by an anonymous 13th century English Dominican echoes Dominic’s voice for all times:
May God the Father bless us,
May God the Son heal us,
May the Holy Spirit enlighten us and
give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with, and
hands to do the work of God with,
feet to walk with, and
a mouth to preach the word of salvation with,
and the angel of peace to watch over us and lead
us at last, by our Lord’s gift, to the kingdom.
Amen.
by S. Karen Vollmer OP
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