Happy Feast of St. Dominic!

I have always felt that St. Dominic was a quiet man. He never sought out notoriety; rather, he kept careful counsel with himself – knowing that his complete attention needed to be focused on the God-within. I have often marveled that even though we have very few of his own recorded words, St. Dominic is still so well-known. And not only well-known, but well-loved by those of us who are members of his Dominican Family. He obviously did not need to make a big splash in order to communicate what was good, true, beautiful – in a word, what was of God. This image conveys the “quiet” Dominic to me. It was created by a young artist from the Netherlands by the name of Egbert Modderman – and the piece is entitled St. Dominic Cleaning His Feet.

I happened upon a Blog Post regarding this image, which I thought was absolutely beautiful. The author of the Blog is a gentleman by the name of Ruben De Preter – and I would like to share a bit of it with you….

Modderman’s achievement is more than a portrait. It is a visual theology, a meditation on labor, and a liturgy of tenderness. This painting does not show holiness as conquest, but as care—care for the journey, for the body, for the people one serves. In this quiet moment, with his worn foot, gentle hand, and bowed head, Saint Dominic invites us to believe not only in him but in the sanctity still possible within ourselves.

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of St. Dominic, may each one of us renew our commitment to the pursuit of truth; to be people steeped in the Word; and to be lights for the Church and the world in these our times. 

Happy Feast!

Sr. Margaret Mayce, OP – DSIC International Coordinator