Monday, August 8, 2022

  Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest

(Ezekiel 1:2-5.24-28c; Matthew 17:22-27)

The iconography of St. Dominic includes a dog holding a lighted torch in its mouth and a star.  Dominic’s mother is said to have had a dream of the dog while she was pregnant with her sainted son.  Its meaning has been given as a reference to the Order of Friar Preachers that Dominic eventually founded.  Called “Dominicans” after their founder, the friars are taken as dogs of the Lord, what the latinized form of the word -- Domini canis -- means.  Dominicans spread the light of Christ – that is, the gospel – throughout the world.

Dominic’s godmother said that she saw a star over Dominic when he was baptized.  Its meaning is obscure.  At least, popular accounts do not attempt to interpret the star.  It might be associated with Ezekiel’s vision in today’s first reading.  The prophet had a vision of the godhead that appeared like a sapphire. Since sapphires often have a star-like radiance, Dominic’s star may be seen as a vision of God that he kept always before him.  His biographer and successor, Bl. Jordan of Saxony, said that Dominic was always either “talking to God or about God.”

Dominic was a visionary.  Along with St. Francis of Assisi, Dominic began a spiritual revolution.  Their friars would not be confined to monasteries but would preach on street corners and in parish churches.  They would not ride on horses nor wear fine cloth but would attract others to Christ by living simply.  We honor Dominic today not only for his holiness but also for the movement he founded.  That movement – the friars-preachers -- still has force in the Church today.