1st Tuesday
On the Humility of our Blessed Father
Transcript
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
In life, St. Dominic strove always to imitate his heavenly Queen and Mother in humility. As Mary received the Word into her womb at the Annunciation, wondering at what was being wrought in her, so Dominic responded with like humility in the foundation of his Order. When early on he lacked followers in Toulouse, he continued preaching, knowing that only God could give the increase of vocations. He always saw his Order as a gift from God, not his own achievement.
Dominic desired to be a true servant to his friars and his Order. He knew that to reach souls was the work of God and that he was God’s instrument. Thus began his practice of saying the Hail Mary before preaching. He relied on Our Lord and His Mother, knowing that only through them could he bring light and hope to souls.
To his friars, Dominic showed his love, encouraging them in holiness and humility. He taught them to bow profoundly when passing a crucifix, humbling themselves before Our Lord who was humbled unto death for them. He felt himself unworthy to guide the friars, asking the General Chapter to depose him. His brethren, seeing his wisdom and deep humility, re-elected him as their head.
How are we to live our Father’s great humility? As he did, we must first place ourselves in the hands of Mary, allowing her to work in us. We must daily echo her words to the angel, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Whether responding to the request of a superior, working in the classroom, or in the myriad duties of daily life, let us strive always to imitate our Mother and Queen and act as handmaids of the Lord. Then we will rejoice in heaven to hear the words once spoken to Dominic said also to us: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Let us honor today the first joyful mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation, and let us ask, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Dominic, the virtue of humility.