St Dominic

     When I was 8 years old, my mother made me and my two sisters outfits to wear in the annual talent show at our Church. My mother was a master seamstress and could make anything. She was a perfectionist, so everything she sewed, looked absolutely professional. I don't know who decided it, but it was chosen, for that year's competition, that us three girls were to be dressed as Dominican sisters. The habits were white with a white collar and the top of the habits were just like the hoods of a Dominican nun. We wore long big black rosaries, tied to our waist and we sang the song, "Dominique". A song featured in the movie called " The Singing Nun", with Debbie Reynolds playing the main sister. We had to sing parts in French and I remember feeling like crying because the words were so hard to say in succession with the music. But it was chosen that I got to hold a little ukulele and pretend like I was playing so it took the tension off of my words. Ha!. Well, we pulled it off to the sound of a roar of clapping. We won the competition. 

     Every time I hear that song, to this day, it brings such fond memories of my mother and my sisters. I can close my eyes now and see us three on stage looking out at everyone after days and days of practicing and feeling like we really accomplished something. But most importantly, it was the time when I learned about Saint Dominic. The founder of the Dominican order. He is often pictured with the dog in pictures, because of a legend that says his mother, blessed Jane of Aza, dreamed of a dog carrying a torch in its mouth while she was pregnant with Dominic. The dog ran around the world setting everything on fire with the torch. A monk later explain to her, that it meant the child she was carrying in her womb, was destined to be a great preacher and would set the world on fire with his words. This story intrigued me so as a child and now as an adult. Because for one thing, that's just what he did. The words that he preached set people on fire with the Love for God. Saint Dominic is the patron Saint of the Dominican Republic and of astronomers. We remember him today, as today August 8th, is his feast day. In our intentions we can pray that we may always be on fire with the Love of God and preach it to all with Love to anyone and everyone that is searching for something they have not yet found. Our words, about Jesus, can be the little flame that somebody just may need, just like St Dominic's. 

St Dominic, beloved friend in Heaven, pray for us!