Dominicans worldwide celebrate today the feast of Blessed Jane of Aza, the mother of St. Dominic.Blessed Jane of Aza

Her fame was widespread early on in the history of her son’s Order.  From Rodrigo of Serrato’s Chronicle of the Saints:

God, who knows the future and desired to show the Church what the quality and grandeur of this blessed man would be, decided to manifest Dominic’s future by several revelations.  Before conceiving him his mother saw herself in a dream bearing in her womb a young dog; it was holding a burning torch in its mouth and, once it had emerged from her womb, it seemed to set the whole world on fire.  This was the announcement that she would give birth to an eminent preacher who, with his flaming torch of eloquence, would rekindle that fire of charity which was being extinguished in the world.  This proved to be true by subsequent events.  Dominic was able to reprove wickedness admirably, to fight against heresy, and to exhort the faithful with great zeal.

Rodrigo continues by describing Jane’s spiritual life.  He calls her “virtuous, chaste, prudent, full of compassion for the poor and the afflicted.”  He concludes, “Among all the women of the region she was outstanding for her good reputation.”

In celebrating today’s feast, we are reminded of the indispensable role families play in the transmission of the faith from one generation to the next.  As the first school of faith, the family is a privileged place where Christian truth and love are born into human minds and hearts.

Lord our God, you filled Blessed Jane with the spirit of the Gospel.  In that spirit she prepared her sons Dominic and Manes for the apostolic life.  Awaken in us that same gospel spirit.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.