FATHER DOMINIC, C.P.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 17, 23 January 1891, Page 27

FATHER DOMINIC, C.P.

(Liverpool Catholic Times, November 28.) The cause of the beatification and canonisation of Father Dominic of the Mother of God, Passioaist, of which the Ray. Pius Da vine 0 P of Mount Argas, Dublin, is the postulator, is at present before the Roman Curia. Father Dominic, who introduced the Congregation of the Passion into England— an event, the foreknowledge of which was divinely communicated to the founder, St. Paul of the Cross— was a poor shepherd boy, born near Viterbo, not far from Rome. Possessed of great natural talents aad exalted virtues, he became one of the principal men of light and leading io the religious body to which he became attached, and, after a laborious missionary career died at Heading on the 27th of Augußt, 1849. It was he who received -ardinal Newman into the Church. The eminent Oratorian thus relates that historic incident in his " Apologia " : •' One of my friends at Littlemore had been received into the Cnurch on Michaelmas Day at the Passioniat house at Aston, near Stone, by Father Dominic the Hupertor. At the beginning of October the latter was passing through London to Belgium ; and, as I was in some perplexity what steps to take for being received myself, I assented to the proposition made to me that the good priest should take Littlemore in his way, with tbe view to hi-* doing for me the same charitable service as he had done for my friend. On October the Bth I wrote to a number of friends the following letter :— Lutlemore, October Bth, 1345 : I am this night expictiug Father Domi lie, the Passionist, who, from his youth, has b eu led to have distinct and direct thoughts, first of the countries of the North, then of England. After thirty years' (almost) waiting he was without his own act sent here. But he has had little to do with 'the c inversions. I saw him here for a few minutes on St. John Baptist's Day last year. He is a simple, holy man, and withal gifted with remarkable powers." He did missionary work in England and Ireland from 1842 until his death. There must be some still living who remember him and can bear evidence to his virtues and zeal. They are requested to correspond with the Rev. Pius Devine, 6 P 8t Paul's ttetreat, Mount Argus, Dublin. The life of Father Dominic has been written by Father Devine, who proposes bringing it out next June. He will be going to Rome in January. It is expected that the cause of Father Dominic, at present in the preliminary stage, will be formally introduced about three months hence, when he will be declared venerable.