Feast of St. Dominic (Mt. 14-22-36) “A Different Path”
Feast of St. Dominic (Mt. 14-22-36) “A Different Path”
St. Dominic lived in the 13th century. He along with St. Francis started a new type of religious life. The two of them began the mendicant orders. To understand them we must realize that the model for religious life up until the 12th century was that the religious were contemplatives who lived in one place their whole life.
Secular clergy ministered to the people in their parishes. The monastics took vows of poverty, chastity obedience and stability. The vow of stability meant that the religious would live anchored in one place.
Francis and Dominic wanted to live among the people. They also wanted to be free to move around the world taking the gospel out to others. St. Dominic was asked by the Popes of his time to preach against a heresy that was very prevalent in his time. It was the Albigensian heresy. This heresy said that the world was corrupt. The soul was all important. The body was not.
The clergy of Dominics time were looked upon as individuals who valued worldly comforts. The monasteries were places where there was plenty to eat, there was security, and there were all the necessities you could want. Ordinary people struggled to live from day to day.
As Dominic moved from place to place, he had only the clothes on his back. Life on the road was hazardous. He had to depend on divine providence. The people looked at the Dominican friars and they admired them. They got to know them because they were accessible.
The Dominicans are known as the order of preachers. Dominicans also founded educational institutions where they formed the laity in the faith. The main thing that people learned from the traveling friers was that one could live amid the world and be holy. Contemplation was not reserved for monks and nuns living in a monastery.
1. Do I believe that I can be holy? Do I believe that I can be contemplative?
2. Is stability a good value to have? Why or why not?
Dear Parishioners,
I would like to thank Sandy Carlston and Debbie Patronagio for speaking at all the Masses this weekend. If you missed their presentation, they spoke about all the catechetical opportunities that are available for people who want to receive the sacraments of the church.
One interesting thing to note is that the RCIA has been named the OCIA. This stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. This new name reminds us that becoming Catholic revolves around the liturgical rites of the church.
If you know of children or adults who need the sacraments of initiation, contact our office and talk to Debbie, Sandy or me.
May Our Lady Pray for us today,
Fr. Mark