St. Dominic

Meet St. Dominic

By Fr. James Cuddy, OP ’98

St. Dominic (1170-1221) was one of the greatest preachers the world has ever known. And what made him so effective was his love. Nothing more and nothing less. And this love was twofold.

First, it was the love of God. St. Dominic loved the Lord with all his heart, all his mind, all his soul, and all his strength. While so many of us look upon prayer as an obligation to be fulfilled, our Holy Father delighted in the opportunity to spend every moment in conversation with God.

Second, he had a profound love for all his brothers and sisters. Sometimes tender and sometimes tough, he had an unrivaled affection for those who were his companions in the preaching ministry. But that isn’t all that remarkable. After all, most of us find it easy to love those who love us. What made St. Dominic so amazing was the love that he had for those with whom he did not see eye to eye. In the face of trials, St. Dominic’s love for all people only intensified. He was known to routinely spend all night awake in the chapel, kneeling before the Crucifix, and praying for those who had rejected his message. one of his earliest brothers said, “Everybody was enfolded in the wide embrace of Dominic’s charity, and since he loved everyone, everyone loved him. He made it his own business to rejoice with those who were rejoicing and to weep with those who wept.” To seek and to speak the truth in love for both God and neighbor… that was the way of St. Dominic.

Everybody was enfolded in the wide embrace of Dominic’s charity, and since he loved everyone, everyone loved him.”

Bl. jordan of saxony, op