The world, and the church, owe St Dominic much. This illustrious Order has three mottoes: firstly, ‘Truth’;  secondly, and this is perhaps the best known of the three: ‘To contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation’; and, finally, ‘To praise, to bless, to preach’.

St Dominic gave to his religious the strong foundation of prayer and meditation that would inform all their preaching. Silence is valued as an environment that fosters spiritual growth, which in turn is expressed in preaching (not only in words, but through the way life is lived).

Today, we give thanks for the Dominican Order worldwide, in its many branches. May St Dominic pray for us in all our own endeavours for the Gospel of Truth, and may God Himself bless you this day.