Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic in Prayer by El Greco. Late 16th century © Sotheby's London, 3 July 2013, lot 19

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8 August 2024
Matthew 16:13-23

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said, 'the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.' Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord;' he said 'this must not happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God's way but man's.'

Reflection on the painting

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Dominic, also known as Dominic de Guzmán. Born in 1170 to a family of Spanish nobility, he was well educated and studied for 10 years at the University of Palencia. Already during that period it was reported how concerned he was with the well-being of others, especially the poor, rather than with his own needs. In 1191, when Spain was plagued by famine, young Dominic gave away his money and sold his clothes, furniture, and even precious manuscripts to feed the hungry. Dominic reportedly told his astonished fellow students, "Would you have me study off these dead skins when men are dying of hunger?"

But God even had bigger plans for Dominic: founding a new religious order with the mission to combat the many heresies that were around at the time and to help spread the doctrine of the Church. Saint Dominic's cheerfulness and joyousness are remarked upon by a number of people who knew him. The vivacity of his spirit in founding a new order must have been truly inspiring. According to Dominican tradition, in 1208 he experienced a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the church at Prouille, during which she gave him a rosary. The spread of devotion to the rosary is largely attributed to Dominicans. Pope Pius XI stated, that the rosary is "the principle and foundation on which the Order of St. Dominic rests for perfecting the lives of its members and obtaining the salvation of others."

Our painting by El Greco depicting Saint Dominic at prayer was sold at Sotheby's seven years ago for £9.1 million. It is beautiful in its restrained use of colours. When we think of El Greco, we think of vibrant, luminous colours. Here we simply have greys, whites and some brown tonalities for the cross and the rocks. Few devotional works in the late 16th century would have been painted with such immediacy. Even the composition carries this sense of capturing Saint Dominic in the middle of a spontaneous prayer: simply dressed in his black and white habit, Saint Dominic is seen in a moment of quiet reflection in the wilderness, kneeling in prayer before a simple crucifix propped up against a rock. The painting evokes a sense of the spontaneity of prayer which is deeply moving.

Saint Dominic, pray for us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-16-13-23-2024/