FEAST OF ST. DOMINIC
"Take courage, it is I; do
not be afraid."
Job, Chapter 6, Verse 21
It is thus that you have now become for me; you see a terrifying thing
and are afraid.
Job is a horrifying thing
to look upon. He is just plain nasty. Full of oozing sores and covered in
filth. He kind of looks like our savior on the way to pay for our sins. Job is
scaring his neighbors and they find no fun in fear. Can you run away from your
fears?
Taking Courage[1]
The
words “Be Not Afraid” are written more than 365 times in the Bible. God has
reminded us continuously throughout Sacred Scripture to have no fear and trust
in Him. Sometimes circumstances let our fear take the lead while our faith in
God lags behind.
St. John Paul II reminds us to “Be Not Afraid”.
“Have
no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I
am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this
in complete faith and confidence.”
We must remember the greatness of our God and trust in His plan,
even during times when it seems like He is not there.
1.
Here are three important tips to keep in mind:
Remember
that Christ has defeated sin and death so that we can have an abundant
life in Him.
John 10:10 says that “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter
and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly”
(John 10:10). Christ came into this world, vulnerable and susceptible to
suffering, so that we may be freed from the bondage of sin through His death.
His Resurrection from the dead should be a cause of great joy for us. Our fears
should shrink from the realization of Christ’s Redemption.
2.
Get out of your comfort zone.
This saying may sound cliche, but it is imperative! As Neale
Donald Walsch has said: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” It
is not until we face our fears that we will truly start living our lives to the
full.
3.
Do not become discouraged!
Bad times are bound to happen, but It is important to have faith
during those times, though it may be difficult. Deuteronomy 31:8 says that “It
is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or
forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.” It is important to remember God’s
presence in our lives. Although there is bound to be hard times throughout
life, we must recognize that God is
with us more than ever during those tumultuous times, even if His Presence is
not felt. When confronted with unforeseen circumstances, we have two choices to
make. We can either allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear, or we can
surrender ourselves to God. In the end, the choice to have faith in the face of
fear will deepen our trust in God. Let us not run away from fear, but face it
head on, knowing that God is in control. He will not allow our fears to get the
better of us, but He will use them for our own benefit, drawing us closer and
closer to Himself.
1805 Four virtues play a pivotal
role and accordingly are called "cardinal"; all the others are
grouped around them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
"If anyone loves righteousness, [Wisdom's] labors are virtues; for she
teaches temperance and prudence, justice, and courage." These virtues are
praised under other names in many passages of Scripture.
Saint Dominic[2]
St.
Dominic had for many years preached against the errors of the Albigenses and
other heretics, with such zeal and profound ability that they were often
convinced. But nevertheless the results were unimportant; but few returned to
the bosom of the Catholic Church. In this discouraging state of things St.
Dominic redoubled his prayers and works of penance, and in particular besought
Mary for support and assistance. One day Mary appeared to him and taught him
the Rosary. He zealously labored to introduce everywhere this manner of prayer,
and from that time preached with such success that in a short period more than
one hundred thousand heretics and sinners were converted. The divine origin of
the Rosary is testified to by the bull of Gregory XIII. of the year 1577.
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