TODAY’S generation must follow St. Dominic de Guzman’s example of sacrifice and humility to avoid being indifferent, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said at the University Mass in honor of the founder of the Order of Preachers on Monday, Aug. 7.
In his homily, Villegas said St. Dominic’s place in modern society is to be an “antidote of conscience” against apathy.
“St. Dominic is the patron of those who have no gana sa buhay. And St. Dominic is the conscience of pricks – those who are walang pakialam. Tagasundot doon sa walang pakialam at tagapagbigay ng pag-asa at apoy sa walang gana. Subalit, higit sa lahat, konsensya para sa mga walang hiya,” Villegas said.
(St. Dominic is the patron of those who don’t have a zest for life. And St. Dominic is the conscience of pricks – those who are indifferent. The one who pokes those who are apathetic and a giver of hope and fire to the lethargic. But, above all, he is a conscience of the shameless.)
St. Dominic stands against fake news, and his teachings should serve as inspiration for young people to spread veritas, or Latin for “truth,” the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said.
“Our zeal should be greater than those who are spreading the error,” Villegas said. “And how was it done? By life of simplicity and life of courage.”
The archbishop warned about the dangers of living an easy life, recalling that St. Dominic made a lot of sacrifices – walked barefoot, fasted, and wore mean clothes – to remain steadfast in his devotion to God.
“Our generation needs to discover that an easy life is a bad teacher. You can learn some things from easy living, but those are not long-lasting,” Villegas said.
“[Y]ou will learn in difficulty, you will learn in crisis, you will learn in darkness,” he added.
The Institutional Mass at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church was concelebrated by UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. and Vice Rector Fr. Isaias Tiangco, O.P.
Classes and office work at the University are suspended on Tuesday, Aug. 8, in observance of St. Dominic’s feast day.
St. Dominic founded the Dominican Order in 1215 at Toulouse, France, which the Vatican approved a year later. Missionary Dominicans carrying out the will of Fr. Miguel de Benavides, O.P., the third bishop of Manila, established UST in 1611. Ammiel B. Maestrado
