Saint Dominic, 1170–1221
August 8

Saint Dominic knew that it was important for people who work for God to be together. He founded a religious order called the Order of Preachers. Sometimes they are called Dominicans, after him. His motto was: "to praise, to bless, to preach." He wanted his followers to always praise God, bless everyone they met, and preach the Gospel. He also wanted them to live together in community. They shared all they had, like the earliest followers of Jesus did. Even today, Dominicans dedicate their lives to telling people the Good News, and they still live in community.

Discuss: How does your family work together for the good of each person?

Saint Dominic knew that it was important for people who work for God to be together. He founded a religious order called the Order of Preachers. Sometimes they are called Dominicans, after him. His motto was: “to praise, to bless, to preach.” He wanted his followers to always praise God, bless everyone they met, and preach the Gospel. He also wanted them to live together in community. They shared all they had, like the earliest followers of Jesus did. Even today, Dominicans dedicate their lives to telling people the Good News, and they still live in community.

Dominic is the patron Saint of astronomers and the Dominican Republic. He was born in Spain, and died in Italy. His mother is known as Blessed Joan of Aza. One story tells us that one day while in church, Dominic saw a beggar come through the church doors. He recognized this beggar as a man he’d seen in a vision, someone he was meant to work with for God. The beggar was Saint Francis of Assisi. The members of the Dominican and Franciscan orders celebrate this meeting together on each man’s Feast Day, attending Mass in each other’s churches.

Dominic is often show holding a lily and accompanied by a dog or a globe with fire. His halo is often shown with a star.

Activity
Praise, Bless, Preach
Verbal/Linguistic

Say: Most of us know how to praise and bless, but we don’t really think of ourselves as preachers. Did you know that preaching doesn’t always require the perfect words? In fact, sometimes, it doesn’t require words at all. Sometimes, the best preaching is done through our actions.

• Have your child create three separate lists with two columns each. The first list will be titled Praise; the second, Bless; and the third, Preach. In all three lists the column heads will be Home and Parish Community.
• Invite your child to think about ways she/he can praise God, bless others, and preach through words or actions at home and in the parish community. Have her/him fill in the appropriate list with her/his answers.
• While your child is working on his/her lists, create your own.
• Share with each other some of the ideas you came up with. Commit to putting one idea from each list into practice in the week ahead.