Commentary: Aquinas Byrnes OP, The Hymns of the
Dominican Missal and Breviary
Use: Matins. 1. "Let Dominic, the new champion of the
Lord, be extolled; for he conforms his life to his name,' being made an
evangelical man." Athleta. The saints are the recognized champions
of God, since they dedicated themselves to battling for God and His teachings.
"Labor as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). Rem nomini.
Play on the similarity of the words Dominus (the Lord) and Dominicus (of
the Lord). The sense would be that, being named after the Lord, Dominicus
conformed his life (rem) or character to that of our Lord; chiefly in
doing the Lord's work of spreading the gospel tidings (evangelicus).
"Whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son' (Rom. 1:9). The same
sort of play on words, a favorite with the medieval poets, is made in the case of
St. Pius. Another well-known play on St. Dominic's name is the basis of the
phrase "watchdog Of the Lord" (Domini and canis).
2. "Preserving without stain the lily of his
virginity, he burned like a torch with zeal for the perishing." Lilium.
Because of its whiteness, the lily is symbolic of purity, "As the lily
among the thorns,. so is my love among the daughters" (Cant, 2:2). Facula.
"And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a
torch" (Ecclus. 48: l). Pereuntium, the spiritually perishing. “I became
all things to all men, that I might save all" (l Cor. 9:22).
3. "Treading the world under his feet, he
strove for the stronger things; unprotected he meets his foes, being sustained
by the grace of Christ." Pedibus, "He hath subjected all
things under His feet" (Eph. 1:22). Fortia, the more endurable,
higher things. NB this line is different than the LH: manum misit ad fortia.
"I press toward the mark, to the prize of
the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. g: 14). Nudus,
i.e., unarmed, naked of material help. Hostibus, very probably the
Albigensian heretics, by whom he had often been threatened and at whose hands
he hoped for martyrdom. "For though I should walk in the midst of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for Thou art With me" (Ps. 22:4).
4. "He battles by his preaching, his
miracles, and his brethren scattered throughout the world, joining frequent
tears to his constant prayers." Verbo, etc. While the stanza is in
praise of Dominic, it may aptly be applied to the Order after his time.
Dominic's aim was the salvation of souls by means of learned preaching. Hardly
had the Order been approved when he dispersed his small band to different
countries, in imitation of Christ (Mark 16:15). ' 'Bu,t they going forth,
preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with
signs (miraculis) that followed" (Mark 16:20). Fletus. We
are told that Dominic always prayed and wept for the sinners of every town
where he preached. "I have heard thy prayers, and I have seen thy
tears" (4 Kings 20:5).
May Dominic, a new athlete of the Lord, be
praised, who conformed his life to his name and was made a man of the Gospel.
Persevering without stain, a lily of virginity, he was enkindled like a torch
in his zeal to oppose heresy. Crushing worldliness under his feet, he girdled
himself for battle, naked he encountered the enemy, supported by the grace of
Christ. He fought with words and miracles, his brothers sent throughout the
world, often joining tears to diligent prayers.
To the Triune and One God, praise, dignity, glory, may He lead us to the
joys of heaven by the prayer of Dominic. Amen.
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