FILIPINO Dominicans marked the solemnity of their spiritual father St. Dominic de Guzman last Aug. 8, as they looked forward to marking the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Dominican Order in 2016.
Holy Masses were held at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City, headquarters of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, as well as at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas and Colegio de San Juan de Letran de Manila, two important Dominican centers of higher learning.
At the massive shrine of Santo Domingo, Franciscans led the Eucharistic celebration, following a tradition among Dominicans and Franciscans that the leaders of each mendicant order preside over the commemoration of the feast of the founder of the other order.
Countless blessings from God will be obtained by following the path of St Dominic de Guzman, which entails humility and living a “simple life,” said Fr. Francis Mateo, O.F.M., custos of the Conventual Franciscans in the Philippines.
Despite moments of guilt due to sinfulness, a “flicker of light” will remain within the hearts of the people who live with “simplicity and humility,” he said in his homily at Santo Domingo last Aug. 8.
“Bagamat ikaw ay asin na parang nawawalan ng alat, saysay, at halaga, ikaw ay ilaw din na mayroong liwanag na hindi mapaparang at hindi mapapagal. Ang dapat lamang gawin ay mailagay ito sa tamang kalagayan upang maging malaya,” Mateo said.
Mateo said that by embracing the real essence of simple living, Catholics would be able to spread the Gospel, inspired by St. Dominic and his followers.
“Tanggapin natin ang kasiyahang dala ng simpleng pamumuhay, ng namumuhay na naka-depende sa Diyos,” Mateo said.
More than 40 Dominican friars concelebrated the Mass at the Santo Domingo Church. It was presided by Fr. Cielo Almazan, O.F.M., vicar provincial of the Franciscans in the Philippines.
In his homily during the UST mass at the Santisimo Rosario Parish last Aug. 7, Fr. Gerard Timoner III, O.P., prior provincial of the Filipino Dominicans, urged Thomasians to eradicate “toxic memories” that hinder Catholics from proclaiming the Good News.
Timoner likened the proclamation of the Gospel to travel in which bringing “excess baggage and negative memories” should be avoided.
“Traveling becomes less enjoyable when we are saddled and weighed down by too many things to carry. Jesus admonishes us to travel light and to carry only the necessary things we need for the journey,” Timoner said in his homily.
Timoner also emphasized the importance of forgiveness to obtain faith and blessings from God. “Reconciliation happens when both persons involved in a conflict humble themselves, and decide to tread the path of a healed future, empowered by a healed memory,” he said.
Letran Rector and President Clarence Marquez, O.P., urged Letranites to emulate St. Dominic through “feet, smile, and light” to be able to evangelize.
“Kung nais nating parangalan ang ating Amang Santo Domingo, tularan natin siya na may magandang paa dahil siya’y naglalakad para ipamahagi ang mabuting balita, tularan natin siya dahil siya ay may magandang ngiti na nagsasalita ng kabutihan, [at] tularan natin siya dahil siya ay liwanag na tumatanggap ng ilaw mula sa Diyos,” Marquez said at the Blessed Antonio Varona Gymnasium in Letran.
Born in Caleruega, Spain, St. Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers in 1216. The order has approximately 6,135 members, statistics from catholic-hierarchy.org showed.
In the Philippines, the Dominicans run 16 convents and 10 schools, including UST and Letran.
This year’s celebration also coincided with the first death anniversary of Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Leonardo Legaspi, O.P., first Filipino rector of UST and former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
