St. Dominic: Preacher of Truth

St. Dominic was born in Calaruega Spain to a knightly family. Little is known about his early years, but what appears to be clear is he didn’t have a St. Augustine style conversion. His case was a slow and steady continual yes while God prepared him for the biggest yes of his life. 

Dominic started out as part of his local cathedral chapter and it was in this capacity that he found himself traveling through southern France with his bishop Diego of Osma, whom he was very close to. It was on this journey that he encountered an Albigensian heretic who ran the inn they were staying in for the night. 

The Albigensians believed the body and all material things to be evil, created by an evil deity, among other errors. Dominic stayed up all night discussing and debating the true faith with this man. By morning he had won his soul back to the Church. 

This moment was the beginning of his mission and the first inkling of what would later become the Order of Preachers, more commonly known as the Dominicans. 

That is what Dominic was above all, he was a preacher of truth and of grace. He spent all his days in labor for the salvation of souls. Not only in preaching but in strict bodily penances, all night vigils, and constant prayer. 

Dominic is a saint for this age. He didn't shrink from telling the truth, but he did it in love. He was flexible to those around him; in his rule he included strict fasting regulations but instructed the brothers to eat whatever they were served by benefactors even when it conflicted with the rule. 

People hunger for the truth, they want a faith that asks something of them. Dominic presented the faith in this way, and lived it himself. He would walk for miles barefoot to preach to lost souls. When a group of heretics asked him what he would do if they tried to kill him he told them he would beg them to slowly tear him limb from limb and rip out his eyes before martyring him. 

He was bold, bolder than most Catholics would even dream of being today. However, what is needed from us average Catholics isn’t preaching on street corners or from pulpits. Rather, we need to be like St. Dominic at the inn. When we meet a soul who is questioning, one who is even a little open to conversation, we need to put down whatever we are doing and work with that soul. 

There are surely countless individuals among our families and friends that a conversation could do wonders for. Hearing what they have to say and bringing truth into the discussion in love changes hearts. Not merely stating theological fact, that’s not what Dominic did, but making reality known in a communion of persons. 

Theological knowledge is wonderful, I should say so as a student of theology, but it doesn’t often win souls. Conviction, love and a willingness to speak the truth with both of those is what gets people thinking. It is for God to win the soul. 

When Dominic’s preaching wasn’t having the desired effect he went off into the woods to fast, pray and keep vigil. It was there, in his sorrow, that Blessed Mary gave him the Rosary as a weapon of grace to win souls. It is not in words alone that people are brought back, grace is necessary. 

If you know someone stubborn, who will simply not listen to words or even as much as discuss the faith, pray the Rosary for that soul. The desire to convert people to Christ is why the Rosary was given and so that is a most appropriate intention to have when praying it. Grace softens hearts that are too cold to be warmed by preaching. 

Pray for us blessed father Dominic, 

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ