As we continue our novena in honour of St. Dominic, I hope that our most Holy Father would excuse me for shifting the attention slightly away from him and focusing briefly on his elder brother Bl. Mannes de Guzman.

This somewhat hidden yet important figure of the early beginnings of the Dominican Order, humbly lay aside his ‘elder sibling privileges’ and generously followed his much younger brother, Dominic, on an uncharted journey starting from the tireless preaching against the Albigenses in Southern France to the establishment of the Order of Preachers.

St Dominic - Light of the Church

During the past week at Mass, we have been hearing parables of Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, as recounted by St Matthew. It is a treasure more valuable than all earthly possessions; a priceless pearl; a tiny mustard-seed that grows to become a great shrub where birds of the air can build a home.