Feast day: 17th of August

Friar and Priest Memorial

Saint Hyacinth (Jacek) was born near Wroclaw (Breslau) in Upper Silesia, Poland, around 1185. He was ordained and became a canon of the cathedral of Krakow. On a journey to Rome in 1220 he was attracted to the Order by the holiness and preaching of Saint Dominic. In 1221 he was sent with Henry of Moravia to establish the Order in Poland. The priory of Krakow was established in 1222 and the Province of Poland in 1225. St. Hyacinth labored many years in this region and established priories at Gdarísk and at Kiel. Like so many saints of the Order he was devoted to Mary, the Mother of God. He died in Krakow on August 15, 1257.

Feast day: 8th of August

Our Holy Father Dominic Priest Solemnity

Dominic de Guzman was born at Caleruega, Spain, around 1172-1173. After completing his studies at Palencia, he was ordained a priest and became a Canon Regular in the Cathedral Chapter of Osma. While on a diplomatic mission with his bishop, Diego d'Azevedo, he experienced first hand the Albigensian heresy which was at that time widespread in southern France. From that time on he determined to dedicate his life to the ministry of preaching and to live a life of simplicity. Eventually he was supported in his work by a monastery of nuns at Prouille which he had directed from its foundation in 1206.

Convinced of the need for a group of trained preachers who would spread the truth of the gospel by their preaching and teaching and would live in apostolic poverty, in 1215 at Toulouse Dominic organized his fellow preachers into a new religious Order which was formally approved by Pope Honorius III on December 22, 1216. His own love of prayer and study, his zeal for the salvation of souls, and his belief in apostolic poverty became the foundation stones of his Order. On August 15, 1217, he dispersed this small band throughout Europe and from such beginnings the Order grew.

It was said of Saint Dominic that "he either spoke with God or about God." He died at Bologna on August 6, 1221.

On the Gospel of Luke (12:32-48)

A friend of mine who was a seminarian in America woke up every morning to a neighbour's call of 'are you ready'! To which he replied 'always ready'. The words of Christ in Sunday's gospel are strong and forceful and call for a radical way of living; to always 'stand ready' in waiting for the Lord. But we, by nature, are impatient animals. Who likes to wait in a queue? Whether it be in the doctor’s clinic or near a toll bridge most of us want to get done with the doctor, or to the other side of the toll bridge, so we can get on with our day's business.

A new short video is just added to the website and shows a few excerpts from Morning Prayer which was celebrated in the Dominican Priory in Tallaght as part of the celebration of the end of the Year for the Priests.

This was the same day on which Bishop Anthony Fisher OP and Father Paul Murray OP gave their talks which were published a while ago.

Please click here to look at the video, or look under the video section of the website.

Feast Day: 2nd of August

Blessed Jane was born in the prominent Aza family and married Felix de Guzman. Three of their Children spent their lives in the service of the Church - Anthony, Mannes and Dominic. An early source describes her as 'virtuous, chaste, prudent, and full of compassion for the poor and the afflicted; among all the woman of the region she was outstanding for her good reputation.' She died at Caleruega, Spain, at the beginning of the thirteenth century.