In his homily for the Memorial of Saint Dominic, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, reflected on the remarkable life and mission of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order. Even before Dominic was born, his life was surrounded by signs of a special calling. According to tradition, his mother, Blessed Joan of Aza, had a dream in which she saw a dog carrying a burning torch in its mouth, running throughout the world and setting it on fire. This image later became associated with the Dominicans, symbolizing their mission to spread the light and truth of the Gospel throughout the world.
Catholic tradition also closely associates Saint Dominic with the Holy Rosary. According to this tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and encouraged the use of the Rosary as a powerful means of prayer and evangelization. Through prayer and preaching, many conversions were attributed to his ministry, and devotion to the Rosary became an important part of the Dominican spiritual tradition.
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Readings for August 8th 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/memorial-saint-dominic-priest
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What is Homilies from the National Shrine?
These difficult times demand that we turn back to the beautiful mystery of who God is and what it means to be His cherished children. Listen in to the daily homilies from the Marian Fathers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, including Fr. Chris Alar, Fr. Kaz Chwalek, and many more. May they help you to live by God’s will that you may play an active and effective role in a world whose wellbeing requires authentic Christian witness!