Saint Dominic, A Man of Jesus Christ

My last saint reflection was on the [soon-to-be] newest Dominican saint, Pier Giorgio Frassati. Now, to close out the novitiate on behalf of my entire class, I write on Saint Dominic himself. On this day a year ago, we were vested in the Dominican habit, given our religious names, and officially began the novitiate. Tomorrow, we will profess simple vows, put the “O.P.” after our names, and begin our next step in Saint Louis.

Let’s go back to the basics. Serbian Orthodox theologian Justin Popović famously said, “The lives of the saints are other Gospels.” Furthermore, a classic Christian platitude says, “You may be the only Bible someone ever reads.” In all the Dominican Order’s rich history, tradition, and vivacity that continues today, we can all point to the essential truth that Jesus Christ was alive in Dominic de Guzmán; Saint Dominic exemplified the splendor of extending Jesus’ life through the power of the Holy Spirit that started all the way back in the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 1.

Dominic’s mother had a prophetic calling of his birth: Luke 1. In Palencia, Spain, Dominic sold his books to give to the poor: Matthew 25. He found a great mentor in Bishop Diego: 2 Kings 2. He converted the innkeeper after debating all night: Acts 9. He founded the nuns at Prouille, France: Luke 23 (Eighth Station of the Cross). He gathered the first brothers: Mark 1. He dispersed the brothers to the university cities across Europe: Luke 10. He establishes the Order of Preachers: Acts 1-2.

That might be discouraging… but let me reiterate: it is Jesus Christ who lives in man. Saint Dominic could not have lived the life he did on his own at all. The Good News of Christianity is the Triune God entering into the filthy helplessness of man and elevating him to the divine life. To grasp for sanctity and sainthood by ourselves is literally the sin of Adam and Eve and the Church condemned the heresy of Pelagianism twice: in 418 and 431.

All Jesus asks from us is our surrender and receptivity to His grace. Saint Dominic learned how to receive Christ and allow Him to manifest Himself to the world… kind of like the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother,” (Matthew 12:50). When Jesus takes the wheel, the results are unimaginable.

I end with this quote from Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, my best friend and greatest mentor in heaven: “The good God would not inspire unattainable desires [to be a great saint]; I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to sanctity. For me to become greater is impossible; I must put up with myself just as I am with all my imperfections. But I wish to find the way to go to Heaven by a very straight, short, completely new little way. We are in a century of inventions; now one does not even have to take the trouble to climb the steps of a stairway; in the homes of the rich an elevator replaces them nicely. I, too, would like to find an elevator to lift me up to Jesus, for I am too little to climb the rough stairway of perfection,” (“Story of a Soul”).