Novena In Honor Of St. Dominic

[dominicansoul]

I would like to share the Novena to St. Dominic with all of you. I will post starting with prayers for


[b][font="Arial Black"]First Day[/font][/b]:


[font="Century Gothic"][i]Novena to Saint Dominic[/i][/font]

[b]The Force of Good Example[/b]

[i]He shone in his days as the morning star, in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full; and as the sun, when it shines, so did he shine in the temple of God. (Sir. 50:6,7)[/i]


[i][b]LUMEN ECCLESIAE[/b][/i]
[b]LIGHT OF THE CHURCH[/b]

Saint Dominic was born in Spain in 1170. With the dawn of reason his whole soul turned to God. His childhood was most pious and his youth angelic in purity. In the University of Palencia he was the model student. At twenty-five he became a canon regular at Osma, and with the religious habit he put on the Lord Jesus and strove in all things to imitate Him. His time was divided into prayer, study of Scripture, and community duties. Silence and retirement were his delight; works of penance and tears of contrition his meat and drink. Going in 1205 to France, he spent many years in every kind of labor for the conversion of the Albigensian heretics. Like Jesus Christ he passed the day in apostolic work, the night in prayer. His penance was extreme, but to others he was gentle, sweet, and kind. Many were converted by his miracles, many by the example of his holy life. Six times he journeyed to Rome, once to Spain, once to Paris, walking barefoot, praying or singing on the road; preaching in the towns and villages; spending the nights in contemplation. He founded in 1206 the first foundation, a Dominican cloistered convent in Prouille. In 1215, after a decade of prayer and sacrifice, he founded the Order of Friars Preachers for the conversion of souls. He was a man of truly apostolic heart, a column of faith, a trumpet of the Gospel, the light of Christ to men. He died at Bologna in 1221.

[center][img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh165/hamburgerpatty_2008/Olumen.gif[/img]

O lumen Ecclesiae
Doctor veritatis,
Rosa patientiae,
Ebur castitatis,
Aquam sapientiae
propinasti gratis,
Praedicator gratiae,
nos junge beatis.

Light of the Church,
Teacher of truth,
Rose of patience,
Ivory of chastity,
You freely offered
The waters of wisdom,
Preacher of grace,
Unite us with the blessed.[/center]
(mention intention)

[b]V[/b] Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
[b]V[/b] Let us pray
[b]R[/b] O most enlightened teacher of divine truth, holy father, Saint Dominic, who taught what was profitable for salvation and made yourself all things to all men, that you might win all to Christ, help us to close our ears and hearts to all false doctrine and whatever may be harmful to our souls and to open them joyfully to the truths of holy Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.


[size=1]([i]from the community prayer book of the DSMME with/variation[/i])[/size]

[Deus te Amat]

You have no idea how happy this makes me.

[Selah]

Thank you, friend

[dominicansoul]

Thanks friends!


[b]SECOND DAY[/b]

[b]Humility[/b]

[i]Your attitude must be that of Christ: Though He was in the form of God, He did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, He emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that He humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on the cross! Phil. 2:5-8[/i]

[i][b]DOCTOR VERITATIS[/b][/i]
[b]DOCTOR OF TRUTH[/b]

Humility is the foundation of perfection, and in Saint Dominic it was deep and strong. So clear was his knowledge of the great majesty of God and his own nothingness, that he lived always in holy fear and self-distrust. Though most innocent, he considered himself to be a sinner, unworthy of the least grace. Constantly he prostrated himself before God, praying for long periods of time.

Before entering a town to preach, he used to kneel down on the road, begging God not to punish the people for his sins but to make his labor fruitful. When passing an altar or crucifix he would bow profoundly, in token of his nothingness. Praise and honor he detested, and three times refused the bishopric. At the General Chapter he said to his brethren, "I deserve to be deposed from my office, for I am negligent and relaxed." When asked where he would be buried, "Under the feet of my brethren," the saint responded.

The saints, though great in virtue, looked upon themselves as worthless because they see themselves in the light of God, and knowing Him they know themselves. "Our righteousness," Saint Dominic would say, "when compared to the righteousness of God, is mere uncleanness."

[i]Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt. 11:29[/i]

[center][img]http://www.dominicans.ie/siena/prayer%204-%20salve.jpg[/img][/center][size=1][i]Dominicans have the tradition of praying for the dead in a specified area of the monastery known as the "De Profundis" Hall. It is to commemorate the wish of St. Dominic, that he be buried "under the feet" of his bretheren.[/i][/size]
[center]
"Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;

Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication:

If You, O Lord, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with You is forgiveness,
that You may be revered.

I trust in the Lord;
my soul trusts in His word.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.

More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
let Israel wait for the Lord.
For with the Lord is kindness,
and with Him is plenteous redemption;
And He will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities."
[/center]

(mention petition)

[b]V [/b]Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[b]V[/b] Let us pray

[b]R[/b] O holy father, Saint Dominic, true lover of humility, the greater you appeared in the sight of men, the more you humbled yourself before God. Be to us a loving guide, that, following in your footsteps we may be enabled to withstand all the snares of the enemy, and spending our lives in earnest prayer, self-denial and humility, we may at the hour of death, be received with you into heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[i][size=1](from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/size][/i]

Edited August 1, 2008 by dominicansoul

[dominicansoul]

[b]THIRD DAY[/b]

[b]Compunction of Heart[/b]

[i]Those who fear the Lord seek to please Him, those who love Him are filled with His law. Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts and humble themselves before Him. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord and not into the hands of men, for equal to His majesty is the mercy that He shows. Sir. 2:16-18[/i]

[b][i]ROSA PATIENTIAE[/i][/b]
ROSE OF PATIENCE

Though so pure that Holy Church calls him "Ivory of Chastity," and Christian art puts a lily into his hands, Dominic was always weeping over sin. His soul being full of contrition, acts of sorrow were constantly upon his lips. On seeing towns or villages, he used to weep over the sins committed there against God. But his sorrow was not merely hidden in the soul; it bore fruit in works of penance. Three times every night he scourged himself: once for his own sins, once for those of others, and once for the suffering souls. He was a rule of abstinence, even on journeys never eating meat or food cooked with meat. His fasts were strict and continual; even when traveling over Europe on foot, he fasted from September until Easter, though preaching daily. He never had a room of his own, but slept anywhere: on the ground, a bench, or the altar step. Being a zealous lover of the rule, he punished faults, but with such fatherly love that penance was accepted and even desired from his hands.

"If you have no sins of your own to weep for," Saint Dominic would say, "still weep, after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, and grieve for the sinners of the world that they may repent."

[i]Anyone who does not take up His cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27
[/i]
[center][img]http://www.saintisidore.org/pics/st-dominic-1.jpg[/img][/center]

[center][font="Book Antiqua"]Dearest Jesus! I know well that every perfect gift, and above all others that of chastity, depends upon the most powerful assistance of Thy Providence, and that without Thee a creature can do nothing. Therefore, I pray Thee to defend, with Thy grace, chastity and purity in my soul as well as in my body. And if I have ever received through my senses any impression that could stain my chastity and purity, do Thou, Who art the Supreme Lord of all my powers, take it from me, that I may with an immaculate heart advance in Thy love and service, offering myself chaste all the the days of my life on the most pure altar of Thy Divinity.
Amen.[/font][i][size=1]
(Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P.)[/size][/i]
[/center]

(mention petition)

[b]V [/b]Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[b]V[/b] Let us pray

[b]R[/b] O zealous preacher of penance, holy father, Saint Dominic, whose ardent desire for the salvation of souls made you ever ready to endure the greatest labors and fatigues and even to give your life in order to win them to God, pray for us, that treading in the steps of Jesus Crucified, the Redeemer and Physician of souls, we may disregard all suffering and generously sacrifice ourselves for the needs of others. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V [/b]And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[size=1][i](from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/i][/size]

Edited August 2, 2008 by dominicansoul

[TeresaBenedicta]

I'm gonna go to a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge (and I mean huge!!!) celebration at a Dominican Priory near my house. It's going to be absolutley EPIC.

[dominicansoul]

...you must share!!!

Take plenty of pics if you please!

yup.

Dominicans know how to throw huge parties! Especially on St. Dominic's Feast day!!!

Vows are taken, postulants are transformed into novices, entrance dates are made....

*sigh* Dominicans live large!

[Selah]

Hey, we franciscans know how to party too!

And yes, Teresa, take lots of pictures

[dominicansoul]

[center]Today is the anniversary of St. Dominic's death.[img]http://www.todayscatholicworld.com/st-dominic-rosary.jpg[/img]

We remember this day as the day he came before the Throne of Christ to receive his final reward[/center]

[b]FOURTH DAY
[/b]
[b]Saint Dominic's Prayer
[/b]
[i]Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and inspired songs. Sing praise to the Lord with all your hearts. Give thanks to God the Father always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:18-20
[/i]
Prayer was the breath of Saint Dominic's life, the light on his path, the staff on his pilgrimage. He prayed always. In childhood, his delight was to serve Mass, to visit the Blessed Sacrament, and to chant Office. As a student, he learned wisdom more from prayer than from books. He won more souls by prayer than by preaching or miracles. In traveling, Saint Dominic prayed as he went, sometimes the [i]Veni Creator Spiritus[/i], or the [i]Ave Maris Stella[/i], or sometimes he recited psalms. He often reminded his companions to think of God. Many times Saint Dominic spent the night in prayer before the altar. His methods of prayer were various: sometimes he lay prostrate, then stood erect, then knelt down. For hours he would stand before a crucifix, genuflecting and making fervent ejaculations. Often he stretched out his arms like a cross, pleading earnestly to God. On occasion he was seen in rapture by the vehemence of his prayer. "In all labors and trials, in hunger, thirst, fatigue, his heart turned always to God."

[center][size=4][font="Book Antiqua"][i]Saint Dominic's 9 Ways of Prayer[/i][/font][/size]
[/center]
[center][img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr1.jpg[/img]

SAINT DOMINIC'S first way of prayer was to humble himself before the altar as if Christ, signified by the altar, were truly and personally present and not in symbol alone. (When the Blessed Sacrament was not present in the chapel.)

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr2.jpg[/img]

SAINT DOMINIC used to pray by throwing himself outstretched upon the ground, lying on his face. He would feel great remorse in his heart and call to mind those words of the Gospel, saying sometimes in a voice loud enough to be heard: "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." [Luke 18:13]

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr3.jpg[/img]

Saint Dominic would rise from the ground and give himself the discipline with an iron chain. (This is a practice given to St. Dominic as inspired to Him by God. All Dominicans followed this practice up to Vatican II. Using rope or another material (not iron,) it was a form of penance, for themselves and for the good of the Church and poor sinners.)

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr4.jpg[/img]

Saint Dominic would remain before the altar or in the chapter room with his gaze fixed on the Crucified One, looking upon Him with perfect attention. He genuflected frequently, again and again.

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr5.jpg[/img]

Our holy father Dominic would sometimes remain before the altar, standing erect without supporting himself or leaning upon anything. Often his hands would be extended before his breast in the manner of an open book; he would stand with great reverence and devotion as if reading in the very presence of God. Deep in prayer, he appeared to be meditating upon the words of God, and he seemed to repeat them to himself in a sweet voice.

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr6.jpg[/img]

Saint Dominic, was also seen to pray standing erect with his hands and arms outstretched forcefully in the form of a cross.

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr7.jpg[/img]

WHILE PRAYING he was often seen to reach towards heaven like an arrow which has been shot from a taut bow straight upwards into the sky. He would stand with hands outstretched above his head and joined together, or at times slightly separated as if about to receive something from heaven.

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr8.jpg[/img]

Our father quickly withdrew to some solitary place, to his cell or elsewhere, and recollected himself in the presence of God. He would sit quietly, and after the sign of the cross, begin to read from a book opened before him. His spirit would then be sweetly aroused as if he heard Our Lord speaking, as we are told in the psalms: "I will hear what the Lord God will speak to me . . . (Ps. 84:9)

[img]http://www.domcentral.org/album/dominic/dom9ways/dompr9.jpg[/img]

Saint Dominic, observed this mode of prayer while traveling from one country to another, especially when he passed through some deserted region. Parting from his traveling companion, he would go on ahead or, more frequently, follow at some distance. Thus withdrawn, he would walk and pray; in his meditation he was inflamed and the fire of charity was enkindled. During his prayer, it appeared as if he were brushing dust or bothersome flies from his face when he repeatedly fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross.

[size=1][i](from a collaborative work on the ways of prayer of St. Dominic---The Thomist Press 1964)[/i][/size][/center]

(mention intention)

[b]V[/b] Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[b]V[/b] Let us pray

[b]R[/b] O God, who enlightened Your Church by the virtues and preaching of Saint Dominic, Your confessor and our father, mercifully grant that by his prayers we may be delivered from present dangers and ever increase in spiritual blessings. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[size=1][i](novena taken from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/i][/size]

Edited August 3, 2008 by dominicansoul

[dominicansoul]

[b]FIFTH DAY[/b]

[b]The Spirit of Prayer[/b]

[i]True devotion was in his mouth, and no dishonesty was found upon his lips; he walked with me in integrity and in uprightness, and turned many away from evil. Mal. 2:6[/i]

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."

Dominic considered custody of the senses important and fed his soul constantly with spiritual reading. His books were the Bible and Cassian's [i]Conferences of the Fathers of the Desert[/i]. 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 be fed on the Word of God.

[i]If any man offend not in words, the same is a perfect man. Jas. 3:2[/i]

[center][img]http://www.domlife.org/800/images/ProuilleRefectoryNuns.jpg[/img]
[size=1](Dominicans eat in silence while another reads from a spiritual book. This is so that not only the body, but the soul is fed.)[/size]

[b]Prayer to the Holy Spirit[/b]
(Before meditation and spiritual reading)

[b]Superior[/b]: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created,

[b]All[/b]: And You shall renew the face of the earth.

[b]Superior[/b]: Let us pray

[b]All[/b]: O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us through the same Spirit a love and relish for what is right and just and a constant enjoyment of His consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.[/center]

(mention petition)

[b]V [/b] Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[b]V[/b] Let us pray

[b]R[/b] O most holy father, Saint Dominic, who always showed yourself loving to all and never despised, wounded, or offended anyone, obtain for me from our Savior, the grace to be severe only with myself and my evil passions and always gentle and loving toward my neighbor, ever, like Him, pardoning all who injure or offend me. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[i][size=1](from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/size][/i]

Edited August 4, 2008 by dominicansoul

[VeniteAdoremus]

Edit: if you want a little help with the O Lumen, it follows the Salve Regina in this video.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4o0GOb3D0g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4o0GOb3D0g[/url] Edited August 4, 2008 by VeniteAdoremus

[dominicansoul]

Thank you Venite!!!

Yes, the video shows both of the songs that Dominicans sing every night after Compline. Also, it shows what Dominicans do best: processions! (We loooove processions!)

[b]SIXTH DAY[/b]

[b]Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Mother of God[/b]

[i]How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young ----Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God! Ps. 84:2-4[/i]

The Eucharist was the source and center of St. Dominic's life, and the holy Mother of God captured Dominic's special devotion. Before the tabernacle he spent his nights, finding there rest after his labors; and arriving weary and footsore from a journey, he always visited the Bessed Sacrament before refreshing his body. However much fatigued, he always celebrated Mass, and if possible, sang it. During the celebration of Mass tears were often seen flowing down his face, moving all to devotion.

Of God's Holy Mother he was always an ardent and reverent lover. His life, his work his Order were placed under her protection, and he invoked her in every difficulty and danger. He began the custom of saying the [b][i]Hail Mary [/i][/b]before preaching. The Blessed Mother filled him with heavenly favors, watched over him with motherly care, and gave him the habit of his Order. A tradition cherished in his Order, and supported by the testimonies of many popes, ascribes to him the first teaching of devotion to the recitation of the rosary. His disciples were called "Friars of Mary," and have carried her rosary and scapular to the uttermost parts of the earth.

[i]I Myself am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to Me shall ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me shall ever thirst. Jn. 6:35[/i]

[center][img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh165/hamburgerpatty_2008/AdoreChrist.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][size=1][i]Dominicans spend many hours adoring Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We share with the world what we are given in contemplation.[/i][/size][/center]

[center]O Sacred Banquet,
In which Christ is received,
The memory of His passion is recalled;
The soul is filled with grace,
And the pledge of future glory is given us.

You have given them bread from Heaven,
Containing all manner of sweetness.

Let us pray

O God, who has left us, in this wonderful Sacrament, a perpetual memorial of Your passion, grant us, we beseech You, so to reverence the sacred mysteries of Your Body and Blood, that we may ever find in our souls the fruit of Your redemption, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

[size=1][i](O Sacrum Convivium was written by St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P.[/i][/size][/center]

[i]I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come to me, all you that desire me, and be filled with my goodness. Sir. 24:18; Jn. 14:6[/i]

[center][img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh165/hamburgerpatty_2008/Marys_Mantle.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][size=1][i]Saint Dominic had a dream where he was lifted up into Heaven. He saw multitudes of people, and amongst them, several different religious orders. He began to weep. Our Lady came to him and asked him what was wrong. He answered her, "I see no one from my Order." At that, Our Lady opened up her mantle and showed him where the Order of Preachers resided! We are very devoted to Our Lady, as we know, she has us in her heart and protects us always under her mantle.[/i][/size][/center]

[center][img]http://dominicanidaho.org/music/dominican_salve_p1.jpg[/img] [img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh165/hamburgerpatty_2008/dominican_salve_p2.jpg[/img] [/center][b]

[center]The Blessed Virgin’s Visitation

One night St. Dominic came upon a heavenly trio as he made his way through the dormitory of the brethren. Three radiant women came toward him as the one in the center made the sign of the cross with an asperges brush dipped in holy water, blessing the cells of the sleeping friars. The astonished St. Dominic knelt at their feet and looking toward the most beautiful woman in the middle, asked her who she was. The Blessed Mother replied, “I am she whom you invoke every evening, and when you say, 'Eia ergo advocata nostra' ('Turn then, our advocate'). I prostrate before my Son for the preservation of this Order.” When St. Dominic inquired about the other holy women with her, she identified them as St. Cecilia and St. Catherine of Alexandria.

It is from this account that the custom spread throughout the Order to kneel as the words “Eia ergo advocata nostra” are sung. While the community is kneeling, the hebdomadarian (a designated leader of prayer) walks down the aisle, blessing the brethren or sisters with holy water. [/center]

[center][size=1] [i] (From the website of the Nashville Dominicans) [/i][/size][/center]

(mention petition)

V [/b]Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[b]V[/b] Let us pray

[b]R [/b]O most blessed father, Saint Dominic, who loved our Lord Jesus Christ in the most perfect manner and served Mary, His Virgin Mother, with most fervant devotion, pray for us, your children, that we may ever grow in love of the Sacrament of the Altar, and that, next to God, we may at all times trust in the protection of the Queen of Heaven, so that at the hour of death, we may be received by her into Heaven, and ever abide under the mantle of her love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[size=1][i](from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/i][/size]

[dominicansoul]

Sorry this is so late in the day, guys!

Today is a very important reflection...one that I desperately need to heed

[b]SEVENTH DAY[/b]

[b]Love of God and Our Neighbor[/b]

[i]That we have passed from death to life we know because we love the brothers. The man who does not love is among the living dead. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life abides in no murderer's heart. The way we came to understand Love was that He laid down his life for us; we too must lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 Jn. 3:14-16[/i]

Love is the fulfilling of the law, and Dominic, the preacher of God's law, was consumed with the fire of love. In all his actions, his love for God appeared, and his constant prayer was that he might have true charity and love God purely for His own sake. From this love sprang that ardent desire to suffer for God which made him a martyr in spirit. So deeply was he moved by the love of Jesus Crucified, that he longed to die for Him. His life of generous self-sacrifice proved his love sincere. As a youth he sold his only treasure -- the books from which he studied -- to feed the poor. His life was entirely devoted to the hardest apostolic labor, traveling far and wide to seek the lost sheep of the Good Shepherd and braving every kind of danger. His prayers for souls were continual and daily he did penance for sinners. The one object of his Order was the salvation of souls. Throughout his life he preached to the heathen hoping for martyrdom. He had compassion for the suffering and misery of others. To all, he was gentle, kind, and merciful.

The true love of God is proved by the desire to be like Christ, and to labor and suffer for others.

[i]Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten of God and has knowledge of God. The man without love knows nothing of God, for God is Love. 1 Jn. 4:7-8
[/i]

[center][img]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/1472881086_d227efbabe.jpg[/img]
[/center] [center][size=1][i](Dominicans pray for martyrdom every day. To imitate Christ is the goal of a Dominican soul.)[/i][/size][/center]

[font="Book Antiqua"][center]A Dominican's Morning Offering

O Eternal God,
behold me now prostrate before Your immense majesty in humblest adoration. I offer You all my thoughts, words, actions, sufferings and intentions of this day. I intend to do all for Your love and Your glory; to fulfill Your Divine Will, to serve You, to praise You, to bless You; to be enlightened in the mysteries of the holy faith, to secure my salvation, to hope in Your mercy; to satisfy Your divine justice for my sins so many and so grievious; to give suffrage to the holy souls in purgatory, and to obtain the grace of true conversion for all sinners. I intend to do everything this day in union with those most pure intentions which Jesus and Mary had in life, and with those of all the saints who are in heaven and of all the just who are on the earth; and I would wish to be able to subscribe with the blood of martyrdom this my intention, and to renew it throughout all the moments of eternity. Accept, O my beloved God, this my good desire. Give me Your holy benediction with an efficacious grace not to commit a mortal sin throughout the whole course of my life, but particularly on this day on which I desire and intend to obtain all the indulgences which I can gain; and to unite my intentions with all the Masses which shall be celebrated this day throughout the whole world, applying for myself unworthy and in suffrage for the holy souls in purgatory.[/center][/font]

(mention petition)

[b]V[/b] Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
[b]V[/b] Let us pray
[b]R[/b] O holy father, Saint Dominic, who showed us the way to eternal happiness, and won many souls to God by founding the Order of Friars Preachers, pray for us, that we may follow in your footsteps, and ever work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R[/b] Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[i][size=1](from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/size][/i]

Edited August 7, 2008 by dominicansoul

[dominicansoul]

[b]EIGHTH DAY[/b]

[b]The Death of Saint Dominic
[/b]
[i]Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over few things, I will place you over many. Enter into the joy of the Lord. Mt. 25:21
[/i]
Saint Dominic died at Bologna, August 6, 1221, at midday. Father Ventura, prior of Bologna, was present and thus describes the death of St. Dominic: "Father Dominic returned from Venice about the end of July. Although very weary with traveling, he conversed on the affairs of the Order with me till late. I begged him to rest that night, but he prayed in the Church till Matins at midnight, and then was present in choir. Afterwards he complained of his head, and his last illness began. Lying on a straw mattress, he called the novices around him and exhorted them to fervor with cheerful words and smiling countenance. After being carried to a hill not far off, for better air, he preached to his brethren and was then annointed. Fearing that he would not be buried 'under the feet of his bretheren,' he was carried back to the convent. The brethren recited prayers for a departing soul. When they came to the words, 'Come to his help, ye saints of God; hasten to meet him, ye angels of the Lord: receive his soul, and offer it in the sight of the Most High,' having lifted his hands to Heaven, he gave up his spirit."

[i]Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered the heart of man to conceive what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Cor. 2-9[/i]

[center][img]http://www.scholarsresource.com/images/thumbnails/192/x/xjl109929.jpg[/img]

[font="Century Gothic"][b]O spem miram[/b]

[i]De processione ad altare S. P. Dominici[/i]

O wonderful hope which you gave to those who wept for you at the hour of your death, promising after your departure to be helpful to your brethren.

R. Fulfil, father, what you have said and help us by your prayers. [Alleluia]

V. You who shone by so many miracles worked on the bodies of the sick, bring us the help of Christ to heal our sick souls.

R. Fulfil...



V. Ora pro nobis, beate Pater Dominice

R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

[T. P. additur Alleluia]

Oremus

Deus, qui Ecclesiam tuam beati Dominici, Confessoris tui, Patris nostri, illuminare dignatus es meritis et doctrinis: concede ut ejus intercessione temporalibus non destituatur auxiliis et spiritualibus semper proficiat incrementis: Per Christum Dominum nostrum

R. Amen.[/font][/center]

(mention intention)

[b]V[/b] Pray for us, blessed father, Saint Dominic,
[b]R[/b] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[b]V[/b] Let us pray

[b]R[/b] O most kind father, Saint Dominic, by your saintly life and death, bless and guide us in the path of your holy rule, that perservering till death, we may, through it, attain the eternal joys of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[b]V[/b] May the divine assistance remain always with us.
[b]R [/b]Amen.
[b]V[/b] And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
[b]R[/b] Amen.

[size=1][i](from the community prayer book of the DSMME/w variation)[/i][/size]

Edited August 8, 2008 by dominicansoul

[Selah]

Thanks, Dominicansoul!

Pray for us, St. Dominic!