THE FEAST OF ST DOMINIC, OP. FOUNDER OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS.
FEAST OF ST DOMINIC, OP. PRIEST & FOUNDER.
“Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
“They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
“Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
“Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
“From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.
“Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16: 13 - 23).
Thursday August 8th 2024 in the 18th Week in Ordinary Time.
Today is the feast of St Dominic, OP. Born August 8th, 1170. Died August 6th 1221. Priest. Spanish. St Dominic founded the Order of Preachers, popularly known as Dominicans.
The Dominicans fought and marginalized the Albigensian heresy in France. The Blessed Virgin Mary gave Dominic the Holy Rosary as a potent weapon in the fight against all heresies.
The Holy Rosary with its mysteries is the Whole of the Gospel and is considered a nuclear weapon against heresies.
Think about this: The Dominican order has served the Church for some 800 years. The Dominicans promote the study of Sacred Scripture and the Holy Rosary.
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16: 13).
The mystery of Jesus.
Who is He?
Whence did He come?
Why did He come?
These and similar questions exercised the minds of the disciples of Jesus and the Jewish leaders who watched with amazement the ministry of Jesus Christ. The time has come at last to confront these questions. Jesus took the initiative and asked His disciples.
"They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16: 14).
Jesus apparently not satisfied with generalities asked pointedly:
“But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16: 15 - 16).
Then Jesus revealed an astonishing truth:
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." (Matthew 16: 17).
Many people in the Church today have stopped believing. The honest ones are those who have stopped coming to Church. There is a phenomenal problem of faith in the world today. Jesus is saying in Matthew 16: 17 that faith is a gift of God. Those who have stopped praying and practicing their faith may be losing their faith.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7: 7 NLT).
Lord Jesus, You are my Lord and God, my Savior and Redeemer. You are my best Friend and constant Companion. Grant me the grace to grow to know You more every day, to love You more and to serve You more. Amen.
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."
“He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I promise salvation to those who embrace it and these souls will be loved by God, like flowers placed by me to adorn His throne....My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.” (Words of Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia).
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
Thank you for the Understanding the Book of Revelation series. It’s complex material, and your insights make the prophetic messages much more accessible to everyone interested in eschatology.
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