Aug 8 – Memorial for St. Dominic, priest, religious founder
Dominic (1170-1221) was born of wealthy Spanish nobility and was the son of Blessed Joan of Aza. Joan had difficulty conceiving and prayed at the shrine of St. Dominic of Silos, who had a tradition of patronage of that problem. When she became pregnant, she named the child in honour of the saint. While pregnant, Joan had a vision that her unborn child was a dog who would set the world on fire with a torch it carried in its mouth. A dog with a torch in its mouth became a symbol for the Order he founded, the Dominicans. At Dominic’s baptism, Joan saw a star shining from his chest, which became another of his symbols in art, and led to his patronage of astronomy.
Dominic was a priest who worked for clerical reform. He had a life-long apostolate among heretics, especially Albigensians, and especially in France. He founded the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in 1215, a group who lived a simple, austere life. He also founded an order of nuns dedicated to the care of young girls.
At one point, Dominic became discouraged at the progress of his mission; no matter how much he worked, heresies remained. But he received a vision from Our Lady, who showed him a wreath of roses, representing the rosary. She told him to say the rosary daily, teach it to all who would listen, and eventually the true faith would win out. Dominic is often credited with the invention of the rosary; it actually pre-dates him, but he certainly spread devotion to it, and used it to strengthen his own spiritual life.
Legend says that Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the faith. Dominic met the beggar the next day. He embraced him and said, “You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.” The beggar was St. Francis of Assisi.
- Patron Saint Index
Deu 4:32-40
Mt 16:24-28
“This he showed you so that you might know that the Lord is God indeed and that there is no other.”
Brothers and sisters, in a world full of noise and choices, how do we know what’s truly worth listening to?
I was recently in Rust, a quiet town just off Vienna, and I found myself standing by a paddock of sheep. It was peaceful — the kind of stillness that makes you slow down. A few pet dogs were being walked nearby along the fence. The sheep barely reacted. They looked up for a moment and went straight back to grazing, unfazed.
But then something changed. The farmer’s dog appeared. It did not bark loudly nor chase them. It simply came near, and the sheep started moving. Just like that. They knew it was time to respond. It was that simple. The sheep in Rust did not analyse or hesitate. They just knew. And they moved. No second-guessing. No delay. What about us?
In today’s world, we are surrounded by competing voices which try to pull our attention and hearts in different directions. Yet, Scripture reminds us which voice to listen to. As Moses told the Israelites: “This He showed you so that you might know that the Lord is God indeed, and that there is no other. He let you hear his voice out of heaven for your instruction…”
God has already spoken – through fire, through freedom, through covenant, through Christ. He has made Himself known, not just in ideas, but in actions. He is theGod who saves, instructs, loves, and remains. But the challenge is not just to believe this in theory. The real question is, how would we live if we truly believed there is no other?
Ask yourself honestly: If I truly believed that the Lord is God, and there is no other, how would I pray? How would I forgive? How would I spend my time, or treat my neighbour, or carry my burdens? And if that is not how I am living now, what is stopping me?
The invitation today is not to strain harder to hear God’s voice, but to trust that we already know it. Like the sheep in Rust, we just need to recognise the One. He has already shown us who He is, and He is still speaking. The question is whether we will let our hearts respond. Not with delay. Not with doubt. But with the certainty that the Lord is God indeed, and there is no other.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Stacey Fernandez)
Prayer: Lord, help me to recognise You in the midst of all the noise. Teach me to respond when You draw near. Give me the grace to live like You truly are the only God. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for revealing Yourself, for speaking clearly, loving faithfully, and staying close. There is no other. And for that, I give You thanks.
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment