Friday, August 06, 2010

Novena in Honor of St. Dominic, Seventh Day: Love of God and Our Neighbor


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.

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loes not abides in death. In this we have known the charity of God, because He hath laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (I St. John, III, 14-16.)
R. Thanks be to God.

Spiritual Reading

Love is the fulfilling of the law, and Dominic, the preacher of God's law, was consumed with the fire of love. In all his actions his love for God appeared, and his constant prayer was that he might have true charity and love God purely for His own sake. From this love sprang that ardent desire to suffer for God which made him a martyr in spirit. So deeply was he moved by the love of Jesus Crucified that he longed to die for Him. His life of generous self-sacrifice proved his love sincere. As a youth he sold his only treasure -- the books from which he studied -- to feed the famine-stricken poor. His life was entirely devoted to the hardest apostolic labor, traveling on foot far and wide to seek the lost sheep of the Good Shepherd and braving every kind of danger. His prayers for souls were continual, and daily his blood flowed in penance for their sins. The one object of his Order was the salvation of souls. Throughout life he longed to preach to the heathen, hoping for martyrdom. His compassion was so tender that he was moved to tears whenever he thought of the sufferings and miseries of others. To all he was gentle, sweet and merciful. Twice he desired to be sold into slavery -- once to redeem a widow's son, and once to relieve poverty caused by conversion to the Catholic Church.

The true love of God is proved by the desire to be like Christ, and to labor and suffer for others.

"Every one that loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God. For God is charity." (I John IV, 7-8.)

Responsory

O happy, glorious vine, whose living sap o'erflowing,
Hath fertilized the world, on all men life bestowing:
A consecrated vessel, replete with heavenly wine,
Thou offerest to all mankind, the cup of grace divine.
V. Thy fruitful branches circle
Our great world all around,
And, ever, sweet new tendrils
Are springing o'er the ground.
R. A consecrated vessel, replete with heavenly wine, Thou offerest to all mankind, the cup of grace divine.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. A consecrated vessel, replete with heavenly wine, Thou offerest to all mankind, the cup of grace divine.
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 holy father, St. Dominic, who didst show us the way to eternal happiness, and didst win many souls to God by founding the Order of Friars Preachers, pray for us, that we may follow in thy footsteps, and ever work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 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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