Pope to Dominicans: Your good works give glory to God

Rome, Italy, Jan 21, 2017 / 10:50 am

Saturday Pope Francis encouraged Dominicans to persevere in their good works of the last 800 years, which have been like the "salt" and "light" of Christ, spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

The transition from the empty revelries of the world to the glorification of God "happens thanks to the good works of those who, becoming disciples of Jesus, have become 'salt' and 'light,'" he said Jan. 21.  

"So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven," he quoted St. Matthew's gospel.

Pope Francis celebrated Mass for Dominicans at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on the conclusion of the order's Jubilee Year for the 800th anniversary of their founding.

The Pope praised their founder, St. Dominic, for spreading the Gospel and for giving a virtuous example by his life.

"Today we give glory to the Father for the work that St. Dominic, full of the light and salt of Christ, completed eight hundred years ago; a work to the service of the Gospel," which he preached in both word and deed, he said.

This, Francis said, is the "solid support" against a "use-and-throw away" mentality, against a world constantly seeking new and novel things. It is combatted by "the good works we can do thanks to Christ and to his Holy spirit, and which give birth in the heart to thanksgiving to God the Father, to praise."

Or if not leading to praise, that at least, by our example, people may ask "why? Why does that person behave this way?" and thus, the anxiety of the world is confronted by the testimony of the Gospel.

"Jesus makes it very clear," the Pope said, "if the salt has lost its taste it is no longer good for anything. Woe to the salt that has lost its taste! Woe to a Church that has lost its taste! Woe to a priest, to a consecrated person, to a congregation that has lost its taste!"

St. Dominic's works, on the other hand, "with the grace of the Holy Spirit," have helped many men and women from getting lost in the superficial "carnival" of the world, he said.

The good works of the order have helped people to taste "the flavor of sound doctrine, the flavor of the Gospel, and they have become, in turn, light and salt, artisans of good works."