杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Even today, 杏MAP导航 Francis says, St Dominic can 鈥渟erve as an inspiration to all the baptized, who are called, as missionary disciples, to reach every 鈥榩eriphery鈥� of our world with the light of the Gospel and the merciful love of Christ.鈥�

In a letter to the Master General of the Dominican Order on the 800th anniversary of their founder's death, 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasizes that St Dominic embraced a 鈥渞enewed and vibrant preaching of the Gospel鈥� and offered a 鈥渃onvincing witness to its summons to holiness鈥� in the communion of the Church.

St Dominic鈥檚 great call, he says, 鈥渨as to preach the Gospel of God鈥檚 merciful love in all its saving truth and redemptive power,鈥� showing the 鈥渋nseparability of faith and charity.鈥�

This union of truth and love can be seen in the examples of great Dominicans such as Francisco de Vitoria, Antonio de Montesinos, and Bartolomé de las Casas, in the Americas; and Domingo de Salazar, the first Bishop of Manila, in Asia, who made 鈥渉eroic efforts鈥� to defend the dignity and rights of native peoples.鈥�

In his letter, 杏MAP导航 Francis says, 鈥淭he Gospel message of our inalienable human dignity as children of God and members of the one human family challenges the Church in our own day.鈥� And he calls on Dominicans to be 鈥渁t the forefront of a renewed proclamation of the Gospel.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 praises Dominic鈥檚 insight in establishing a 鈥渟ynodal鈥� form of government for his order, built on the ideal of fraternity, which has enabled the Dominicans to adapt to 鈥渃hanging historical contexts while maintaining fraternal communion.鈥�

Dominic鈥檚 understanding of the importance of 鈥渂uilding up the entire ecclesial community in fraternal unity and missionary discipleship,鈥� says 杏MAP导航 Francis has allowed the Dominican charism of preaching to 鈥渙verflow鈥� in the various branches of the Dominican family. He points to the wide variety of Dominican saints and blesseds, including Catherine of Siena, Fra Angelico, Rose of Lima, John Macias, Margaret of Castello, and the many martyrs of the Dominican order; as well as 鈥渢he countless men and women who, imitating the simplicity and compassion of Saint Martin de Porres, have brought the joy of the Gospel to the peripheries of societies and our world.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis also expresses his special gratitude to the Dominicans 鈥渇or the outstanding contribution they have made to the preaching of the Gospel through the theological exploration of the mysteries of the faith.鈥� Dominic recognised the importance of 鈥渟ound and solid theological formation鈥� in order to engage in dialogue with the world 鈥渋n the service of God鈥檚 revelation in Christ,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 writes.

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalls his visit to the tomb of St Dominic, where he prayed for 鈥渢he grace of perseverance in fidelity to their founding charism and the splendid tradition to which they are heirs鈥濃�� and for 鈥渁 considerable increase of priestly and religious vocations.鈥�