Eternal Shepherd, you made Blessed Benedict known for his great love of the brethren and his service to Your flock. By the help of his prayers may we ever be ardent in our fellowship and with one heart be steadfast in the household of the Church.
Tag: Dominican saints and blesseds
Pope Blessed Innocent V
God of truth, You bestowed on Blessed Innocent the gifts of knowledge and prudence and made him a promoter of peace and unity. By the help of his prayers may we cherish what is of heaven and in perfect unity follow what is right.
A 13th century Dominican friar known for his distinction in theology, Pierre of Trarantaise, was known as the most famous doctor. He served the Order of Friars Preachers as a prior provincial and the Church as the Archbishop of Lyons and later as the Cardinal-bishop of the ancient See of Ostia. At the Council of Lyons II and preached at the funeral of Saint Bonaventure.
In 1276 he was elected the Bishop of Rome –the Pope of the Roman Church– the first of the Dominicans to serve in such manner, though only for six months. He’s the very likely choice of popes who influenced the change of papal attire in that he likely continued to wear his Dominican habit after his election to the Chair of Peter. More on Pope Blessed Innocent V
Blessed John Dominic
God, source of wisdom and love, you made our brother
John Dominic strong in goodness to sustain the unity of the Church and to renew
the regular life. Lead us always to seek unity and peace.
On Blessed John Dominic, Dominican friar and bishop
Blessed Diana and Blessed Cecilia
Merciful Lord, we welcome in joy the feast of Blessed
Diana and Blessed Cecilia. With the help of their prayers may devotion to truth
and love for our brothers and sisters fill our hearts and our lives.
Blesseds Diana and Cecilia were among the first women followers of Saint Dominic and among the first members of the Dominican convent in Bologna, Italy. Blessed Diana was the prioress of the monastery and from extant, extensive correspondence with Blessed Jordan of Saxony (Dominic’s successor), we see the high regard for the hidden life of prayer and penance of the nuns supporting the endeavors of the friars. The preaching of Truth and the salvation of souls needed to be drawn from a life of holiness. From Blessed Cecilia we know what Saint Dominic looked like and who he was a person. The witness of Blesseds Diana and Cecilia is invaluable for the life of the Order of Preachers. As you may know, the contemplative nuns were founded before Dominic founded the friars because he was convinced that if the preaching apostolates were to be effective they had to be undergirded by prayer and penance. Hence, today is an opportunity to pray for the enclosed Dominican nuns and for vocations to this way of life.
Saint Peter of Verona, martyr
Let us rejoice in celebrating the victory of Saint
Peter Martyr. On earth he proclaimed 
Christ’s love for us. Now Christ leads him
to a place of honor before his Father in heaven.
Almighty God, you crowned our
brother Peter with martyrdom for confessing the true faith with perseverance.
Give to us, your people, that same faith that we too may receive the gift of
salvation.
brother Peter with martyrdom for confessing the true faith with perseverance.
Give to us, your people, that same faith that we too may receive the gift of
salvation.
From a Vita
“He [Saint Peter of Verona, martyr, 1206-1252] was marked
by great perfection as a Friar: so watchful was he over the purity of his body
and soul that he never felt himself defiled by a mortal sin. He chastened his
body by fasting and watching, and ennobled his soul by the contemplation of the
things of God. He was constantly busied in works for furthering the salvation
of souls; and had a peculiar gift of grace for clearly convincing heretics.
Such was his power as a preacher, that countless crowds were drawn together to
hear him, and many were moved to repentance.”
by great perfection as a Friar: so watchful was he over the purity of his body
and soul that he never felt himself defiled by a mortal sin. He chastened his
body by fasting and watching, and ennobled his soul by the contemplation of the
things of God. He was constantly busied in works for furthering the salvation
of souls; and had a peculiar gift of grace for clearly convincing heretics.
Such was his power as a preacher, that countless crowds were drawn together to
hear him, and many were moved to repentance.”
In the history of the Dominican order Saint Peter of Verona was among the first generation of followers of Saint Dominic. Peter’s own family were adherents to the Cathar heresy which prompted the founding of the Friars Preachers. While not the first martyr among the Dominicans he is the first saint of the Order. The working of God’s grace in men’s hearts saw the conversion of Peter’s murderer, Carino of Balsamo, and his admission to the Dominican Order as a lay brother. What beauty there is in the conversion of sinners and growth of grace to the point of fully dedicating one’s life to God under the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. Since we are all created for communion with God and others Peter’s killer was brought into that communion. One can say that Saint Peter of Verona’s was the condition of another’s full communion with God. Brother Carino recalled his crime but confessed his sin and did penance for the rest of his life; he is buried at the Cathedral of Forli. Brother Carino is a beatus of the Church; Blessed Carino’s liturgical memorial is April 28, the date of the translation of his relics.
Blessed James Salomone, patron of cancer patients
God of endless ages, in your providence you gave your
people Blessed James to attain the mystery of salvation. By his
life and prayers may we come to know your Son and so
experience his presence more fully in our lives.
Dominican Blessed James Salomone is known for his insightful spiritual direction and as a patron saint of people living with cancer and by his intercession he is invoked against cancer.
Blessed Mary Bartholomew Bagnesi
With the Church, we pray:
O God, in Blessed Mary Bartholomew you brought together steadfastness in suffering and innocence of life as we endure many trials may we be helped by your grace.
Blessed Mary Bartholomew Bagnesi (1514- 1577), a Florentine, received the habit of a Sister of Penance, that is, a lay Dominican sister, in 1547. She suffered many physical illnesses for forty-five years which confined to her bed. Despite the consultation with doctors of all stripes, she bore her sickly life filled the pains with courage. She died on this date but for some reason, was buried at the Carmelite monastery in Florence.
Translation of Saint Dominic
Rejoice to the full in the glory that is yours,
alleluia, and give thanks to God, alleluia, who called you to his kingdom,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
God of truth, you graciously enlightened your
Church by the merits and teaching of Saint Dominic, your confessor and our
father. By his prayers grant that the Church may never lack for temporal help,
and may grow ever richer in spiritual blessings.
Church by the merits and teaching of Saint Dominic, your confessor and our
father. By his prayers grant that the Church may never lack for temporal help,
and may grow ever richer in spiritual blessings.
From the Preface for today’s
Mass it is prayed:
Mass it is prayed:
We praise and bless you today because you called our Father
Dominic to enrich the church by renewing the apostolic way of life. Disciple of
Christ, the very Christ who became poor for our sake, Dominic called the lost
and the wandering home by preaching the Good News. He gathered a band of
preachers together. Nourished by the light of sacred study they gave themselves
without reservation to the proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Dominic to enrich the church by renewing the apostolic way of life. Disciple of
Christ, the very Christ who became poor for our sake, Dominic called the lost
and the wandering home by preaching the Good News. He gathered a band of
preachers together. Nourished by the light of sacred study they gave themselves
without reservation to the proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Today’s
memorial for the Order of Preachers is not often celebrated anymore because it
conflicts with the larger and more significant observance of Our Lady Help of
Christians. But originally this liturgical observance marked the first time the
mortal remains of Saint Dominic were moved having been first buried in the
Church of Saint Nicholas of the Vineyards, Bologna, Italy. Because of the healings at Dominic’s
intercession made his sons apprehensive to accept the miracles, Pope Gregory IX
order that Dominic’s body be moved to a marble sepulchre. The translation took place on
Pentecost, May 24, 1233, which marked the beginning of the canonization
process. At the conclusion of the process Pope Gregory IX canonized Dominic a
saint on July 3, 1234. In 1267,
Dominic’s body was moved a second time, to his present tomb.
memorial for the Order of Preachers is not often celebrated anymore because it
conflicts with the larger and more significant observance of Our Lady Help of
Christians. But originally this liturgical observance marked the first time the
mortal remains of Saint Dominic were moved having been first buried in the
Church of Saint Nicholas of the Vineyards, Bologna, Italy. Because of the healings at Dominic’s
intercession made his sons apprehensive to accept the miracles, Pope Gregory IX
order that Dominic’s body be moved to a marble sepulchre. The translation took place on
Pentecost, May 24, 1233, which marked the beginning of the canonization
process. At the conclusion of the process Pope Gregory IX canonized Dominic a
saint on July 3, 1234. In 1267,
Dominic’s body was moved a second time, to his present tomb.
Blessed Columba of Rieti
God of all mercy, you made Blessed Columba shine forth
by the innocence of her life and by her zeal for peace. By the
help of her teaching may we live together in unity and
serve you with pure minds.
Blessed Columba of Rieti (1467-1501), even before
her formal religious life began she made private vows to the Lord, had mystical
visions, bi-located and was known to be a model of holiness. She, at the
request of a bishop, began a third order convent of sisters. Accused of
terrible things by one Borgia pope became a counselor to another, whom she
called to repentance. She was much beloved by the people.
her formal religious life began she made private vows to the Lord, had mystical
visions, bi-located and was known to be a model of holiness. She, at the
request of a bishop, began a third order convent of sisters. Accused of
terrible things by one Borgia pope became a counselor to another, whom she
called to repentance. She was much beloved by the people.
Blessed Imelda Lambertini
Lord Jesus Christ, you received into heaven Blessed Imelda who loved you in the eucharistic banquet. By her prayers may we learn to approach your holy table with that same fervent love and so fulfill our longing to be with you, who live and reign with the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Blessed Imelda (1322-1333) is the patroness of young people receiving their First Holy Communion. An apt saint to ask for intercession from during this time of the year when so many young people are receiving the eucharistic Lord. Imelda entered the convent at age 9 but couldn’t receive Holy Communion until see was 14, on the vigil of the Ascension; she died immediately thereafter in perfect communion with the Lord.