Feast of the Translation of St Dominic — Lawrence OP

"In accordance with his wishes, St Dominic was buried ‘beneath the feet of his brethren’ in the church of St Nicholas of the Vineyards, Bologna. Many of the sick avowed that they had been healed of their infirmities at his tomb; the brethren however were loath to recognise these miracles and accept votive offerings. However, on 24 May 1233, at the urging of Gregory IX and in the presence of Theodoric, archbishop of Ravenna and papal legate, Dominic’s body was moved to a marble sepulchre during the celebration of a General Chapter at Bologna attended by Bl. Jordan of Saxony and many brethren. Immediately a certain marvellous odour came forth from his sacred body, ‘showing clearly to all how much the saint had truly been the aroma of Christ." This is the sepulchre of our holy father Dominic, begun by Nicola Pisano in 1264, and subsequently embellished by others including a young Michelangelo. May St Dominic pray for me and protect me on my journey home to the United Kingdom today.