The theme of the celebrations, which will run until 6 January 2022, is “At the table with St. Dominic we are invited to live in the unity of the Faith”.
Newsroom (06/08/2021 12:00, Gaudium Press) The Dominican Order are preparing to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of their founder, St. Dominic of Gusmão, who died in Bologna on August 6, 1221. The theme of the celebrations, which will run until January 6, 2022, is “At the Table with Saint Dominic we are invited to live in the unity of Faith”.
Reflecting on the life of Saint Dominic, Friar Gerard Francisco Timor OP, Master General of the Dominican Order, highlighted the timeliness of the saint’s message for the Church and the world today, especially in the midst of the challenges of our time.
Letter of Pope Francis to the Dominicans
The religious emphasizes that St. Dominic preached the “mercy of truth” perfectly manifested in Jesus, the face of the Father’s mercy, as Pope Francis wrote in “Misericordiae vultus”.
In a letter addressed to the congregation of Dominicans on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of their founder, Pope Francis stressed that St. Dominic can “serve as an inspiration to all the baptized, who are called, as missionary disciples, to reach all the ‘peripheries’ of our world with the light of the Gospel and the merciful love of Christ”.
The programme includes a Triduum, Rosary and Mass
In Brazil, from August 5-7, the Dominicans present in the Archdiocese of Salvador, Bahia, are promoting a triduum, always beginning at 4:30pm, with the recitation of the Rosary. Throughout this triduum, the following sub-themes will be reflected upon: “At the table with St. Dominic, let us share faith and hope” (Day 1), “At the table with St. Dominic, let us practice love” (Day 2) and “At the table with St. Dominic, let us celebrate gratitude” (Day 3).
Finally, at 9am on August 8, the Archbishop of Salvador and Primate of Brazil, Cardinal Sergio da Rocha, will preside a Solemn Holy Mass in honor of the 800 years of the death of St. Dominic of Gusmao, which will be broadcast in real time through the official Instagram account of the Venerable Third Order of St. Dominic of Gusmao: @domingosdeg. (EPC)