Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic: Day Six

Herewith another installment of the novena in honor of St. Dominic from John Keenan's little treasure chest, Devotions to St. Dominic, in preparation for St. Dominic's feast day.

Sixth Day: Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle within them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and our hearts shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be ever truly wise, and ever rejoice in His holy consolation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O light of Holy Church,
Teacher of Truth Divine,
Sweet rose of patience,
Ivory white thy chastity doth shine.
Of Wisdom's living waters
All freely thou hast given;
O messenger of grace to men,
Lift thou our souls to heaven.

"How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God; for the sparrow hath found herself a house and the turtle a nest for herself where she may lay her young. Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God!" (Ps. LXXXIII, 2-4.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

The adorable Eucharist and the holy Mother of God were objects of Dominic's tenderest devotion. His lively faith made the altar his paradise. Before the tabernacle he spent his nights, finding there rest after his labors; and arriving weary and footsore from a journey, he always visited the Blessed Sacrament before refreshing his body. However much fatigued, he always celebrated Mass, if possible singing it, and during the Sacrifice tears flowed in streams down his face, moving all present to devotion. "Never," said Stephen of Lombardy, "do I remember his celebrating without tears." Sometimes at the elevation his body rose visibly in the air. Of God's holy Mother he was always an ardent and reverent lover. His life, his work, his Order were placed under her protection, and he invoked her in every difficulty and danger. He began the custom of saying the "Hail Mary" before preaching. She filled him with heavenly favors, watched over him with motherly care, and gave the habit of his Order. A tradition cherished in his Order, and supported by the testimonies of many popes, ascribes to him the first teaching of the Rosary. The sweet and tender Mother often appeared to him and consoled him at the hour of earth. His disciples were called "Friars of Mary," and have carried her rosary and scapular to the uttermost parts of the earth.

"I am the Bread of Life; he that cometh to Me shall not hunger and he that believeth in Me shall never thirst." (St. John VI, 35.)

"I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits." (Ecclus.XXIV, 24-26.)

Responsory

The chaff of human frailty
Threshed out by holy poverty,
The good seed sown
To fruit hath grown,
And, ripe for God, is quickly garnered home.
The virgin's lily shining in his hand,
Amongst the doctors Dominic doth stand.

V. A flower blooming amidst other flowrets fair,
The mighty saint for aye a double crown shall wear.
R. The virgin's lily shining in his hand, Amongst the doctors Dominic doth stand.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. The virgin's lily shining in his hand, Amongst the doctors Dominic doth stand.
V. Pray for us, O holy father, St. Dominic.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O most blessed father, St. Dominic, who didst love our Lord Jesus Christ in the most perfect manner, and didst serve Mary, His Virgin Mother, with most fervent devotion, pray for us, thy children, that we may ever grow in love of the adorable Sacrament of the altar, and that, next to God, we may at all times trust in the protection of the Queen of Heaven, so that at the hour of death we may be received by her into heaven, and ever abide under the mantle of her love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
V. May the divine assistance remain with us always.
R. Amen.
V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.

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