Dominican saints & blesseds: August 2010 Archives

O God, for love of You our sister Rose gave up everything to devote herself to a life of penance. By the help of her prayers may we imitate her selfless way of life on earth and enjoy the fullness of Your blessings in heaven.

The amazing things happen through the saints. A case in point, Rose, after reading of St Catherine began a deeper life of penance and of faith. She cut her hair, began wearing penitential clothing and more time in a period of prayer and fasting. Rose took a vow of virginity in an effort to unite herself more closely to the Lord.

At 20 Rose took the Dominican habit and lived a more intense life of penance in reparation for offenses against God, especially in matters of idolatry that was found in Peru, he home and for the souls in purgatory.

Rose was born 20 April 1586 and died on August 30, 1617. Clement IX beatified Rose in 1667 and Pope Clement X canonized Rose in 1671. Rose is the first American saint, that is, she is the first saint of the Americas.

Blessed Mannes is an older brother of Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers. Mannes was known as a humble man who lived his life in self-sacrifice for the preaching of the gospel and salvation of souls. He was sent by his brother to start a Dominincan Priory in Paris and then to Madrid. He worked with the contemplative nuns and was a famous preacher. Mannes was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI who also instructed that a set of proper texts for a Mass and Divine Office be written in Mannes' honor. His feast day was listed as July 30th but it is celebrated today in the Dominican Order.

A biography of Blessed Mannes can be read here.

The Dominican friar and priest honored today is known in Poland as the Apostle to Poland (or "to the North"). Hyacinth was born in 1185, joined the Order of Preachers in 1219 after meeting Saint Dominic becoming the first to receive the habit; he died on the Assumption feast in 1257. Prior to meeting the Order Hyacinth took earned the Doctor of Law and Divinity degree from the University of Bologna. His vocation was preaching as an itinerant missionary who had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hyacinth was canonized by Clement VIII in 1594.

Culturally, the name Hyacinth is translated as Jacek (in Polish) and Jacinto (in Spanish and Portugese).

"This was St Dominic's appearance. He was of middle height and slender figure, of handsome and somewhat ruddy countenance, his hair and beard of auburn, and with lustrous eyes. From out his forehead and between his eye brows a radiant light shone forth, which drew everyone to revere and love him. He was always joyous and cheerful, except when moved to compassion at anyone's sorrows. His hands were beautiful and tapering; his voice was clear, noble, and musical; he was never bald, but kept his religious tonsure entire, mingled here and there with a few grey hairs." (From the Legend of St. Dominic by Bl. Cecilia Cesarini)