Reading through the Libellus and other documents of these
early days I find that one of the most frequently mentioned characteristics of
St. Dominic is his compassion, again and again we read of his long night vigils
as he struggles with God to have Mercy on all His children, especially his most
wayward ones. Mercy Mercy, he cried, Lord have mercy on your children. What
will become of sinners ?
Dominic could resonate with the beautiful lines from the
poet on mercy and this was surely his way of thinking and his way of seeing
life.
"The quality of mercy is not strained----
it
droppeth like the gentle dew from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;-------
it
blesseth him that gives and him that takes"
Shakespeare
St Lukes' Gospel on the Proddigal Son would have been
especially dear to Dominic. It is said that he pondered with Mary the Word of God and
St Paul's letters that he always carried with him, knowing them almost by
heart. We can see him pleading with and sharing the full depth of this story
with the man in the inn as they talked and argued all night long, and also with
the sinners who were drawn to him, as they sensed that here was a man who would
listen to their story and understand their problems, and sinfullness.---I will
arise and go to mt Father---I have sinned and gone astray. He would encourage
these poor children even the heretics, telling them of God's boundless love and
mercy for them, and the welcome they would find in Jesus just as the prodigal
son experienced it.
He would remind them too of the last
Supper, the moment when John rested his head on the breast of Jesus in complete
trust, sure of Jesus' love for him and his acceptance of this "son of
thunder."
Where did St. Dominic our Father find the strength to
sustain those long nights of intercession and days of walking, teaching and
arguing while at the same time bringing to birth his young Order of Friars Preachers? He would tell them of God's constaint pursuit of them each one
individually and personally.
"All which I took from thee I did
but take,-----not for thy harm's sake
but just that thou migh'st seek it
in my arms.----all which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home; Rise
clasp my hand an come.
the hound of heaven
It was Our Lady, Queen of Heaven herself who walked with
Dominic along the dusty roads and came with him into the inns, wherever a
wayward son and daughter could be found.
Maybe his prayer went like this - universal and personal as
always
Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners,
Hail holy Queen mother of Mercy,----turn then most gracious advocate thine eyes
of mercy towards us/
Our Father Dominic has not changed and he accompanies his
children as they travel along the dusty roads of life sometimes getting muddied
and messed up, but always with our Father and Mary our Mother - sure that after
this our exile he will be there waiting to show us the blessed fruit of Mary's
womb---Jesus Dominic we thank you.
.JPG)
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