Today we celebrate the feast of the Patronage of Mary over the whole Dominican Order. This feast celebrates Mary more as Mother than of benefactor. As the Gospel relates, Jesus said to the Apostle John, “Behold your Mother.” The motherhood of Mary for the whole Church is established in these few words by Jesus.
Blessed Sebastian, the son of a noble family, was born at Brescia, Italy, in 1414 and entered the Order in 1429. Twice he was Vicar General of the reformed Province of Lombardy and served as prior in several convents. He was severe in his personal life, but kind and patient in his dealings with others. He was one of the notable reformers of Dominican life in the fifteenth century. He died at Genoa at the monastery of Santa Maria di Castello in 1496.
Blessed James was born at Mantua, Italy in the latter half of the thirteenth century. He entered the Order there and came to the notice of Nicholas Boccassini, Master of the Order, who made him his socius. Blessed James continued as his advisor when Nicholas was created cardinal in 1298 and when Nicholas became Pope as Benedict XI he was named bishop of Mantua in 1304. There he fought against the hatred and division which plagued the city. Because of his devotion to the poor during a time of pestilence and famine he was called “Father of the Poor.” He died on November 19, 1332.
BLESSED JOHN was born at Caccamo, in Sicily, about A.D. 1446. His mother died in giving him birth, and his father, either taking a dislike to the infant from this cause, or impelled by extreme poverty, cruelly ordered him to be reared on scanty and unwholesome food. The child was nearly killed by this treatment ; but one day, when his father was absent, a charitable woman of the neighbourhood begged his aunt, who had charge of him, to allow her to take him to her house and give him proper nourishment, offering to do so without remuneration. Her charity brought its own reward. Her husband, who had lost the use of his limbs for a long time, was suddenly and completely cured as soon as the infant was laid upon his bed. The father, hearing of the miracle on his return home, took the child back and continued his former cruelties. The infirm man immediately fell ill again, and remained so until his wife had persuaded the inhuman parent to let her have the little one once more, and to allow her to give him the care and nourishment which his age required. The father died soon after, and little John was brought up by his aunt, who treated him with great kindness.
His life was noted for its austerity and penitence, and he seemed to have the power to touch even the most hardened sinners. For 7 years, (1562 - 1569) he preached the good news in the Spanish America (active in Panama). With his zeal for preaching, it is said that at Santa Marta mountains he had baptized 15, 000 people. By the savage, greedy exploitation of the Spanish colonists, he could not do anything much for these newly Baptized. Then, he was recalled back to Spain where he held different positions: prior at San Onofre, novice master at Valencia with natural strictness and lack of humor but not without kindness, and vicar-general of the Dominicans.
St. Augustine of Hippo was born at Tagaste in what is now Algeria around the year 354. He was not only the bishop of Hippo and a theologian who profoundly influenced the Western world, but the author of a rule and master of the Dominican communitarian way of life. His 
This Dominican Saint is called the Apostle of the North. He was the son of Eustachius Konski of the noble family of Odrowaz and was born in the year 1185 at the castle of Lanka, at Kamin, in upper Silesia, Poland (now Prussia); died 15 August, 1257, at Cracow.
Rest In Peace
Some of the greatest suffering during war and violence comes at the expense of children. This song is actually a beautiful prayer,reminding us to pray for peace.
It asks if we hear the prayer of the children, the little ones so often victimized in countless ways. Peace in the world, begins with peace in our hearts and souls. We cannot give what we do not have. Peace must be worked for, it must be prayed for, it must reign in our hearts and minds if we wish to bring Jesus into the midst of our conflicts.
“The Prayer of the Children” above was performed by Kurt Bestor and Sam Cardon. Bestor composed the song and it remains a very popular song. He performed this song at the Millennial United Nations Summit and it continues to gain popularity, as it speaks to a truth in how we should care for one another. He said, "I feel like the proud parent of this song which has done so well,but there is a lesson in it for a lot of us. Anything that glorifies God has this life of its own..."
Please join the Dominican friars in praying for the children, praying for peace.
