Bro. Juniper

FOOL FOR CHRIST 1 Cor.: 4 The term fools for Christ derives from the writings of Saint Paul. Foolishness for Christ refers to behavior such as giving up all one's worldly possessions upon joining a monastic order, or to deliberate flouting of society's conventions to serve a religious purpose - particularly of Christianity. Such individuals were known as both "holy fools" and "blessed fools." The term "blessed" connotes bothfeeblemindedness and innocence in the eyes of God.

Desert Fathers and other saints acted the part of Holy Fools, as have the yurodivy (or iurodstvo) of the Eastern Church. It is even taken to the extreme and in Russian Eastern Orthodoxy it is even described as a person who “feigns insanity, pretends to be silly, or who provokes shock or outrage by his deliberate unruliness. They call these people “The Blessed.”

Fools for Christ often employ shocking, unconventional behavior to challenge accepted norms, deliver prophecies or to mask their piety. Some characteristics that were commonly seen in holy fools were going around half- naked, being homeless, speaking in riddles, being believed to be clairvoyant and a prophet, and occasionally being disruptive and challenging to the point of seeming immoral (though always to make a point).

Juniper Bro. Juniper, was one of Francis’ earliest brothers He was known for taking the doctrine of the Franciscans to the extreme because he was simple of “mind and soul.” St. Juniper nearly went to his death by hanging for being falsely-accused as an assassin, purposefully abased himself so that people would mock and deride him, and gave everything and anything he could get a hold of to the poor (including some ornamentations in a church).

"The Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Asissi", which documents the oral traditions of the Franciscans, told several stories of "Brother Juniper". The most famous of these is the story of how Brother Juniper cut off the foot of a pig to give it to a sick brother.

St. Dominic t2sTUMMkmQQ

Symbols for Dominican Order

BASILICA OF ST. DOMIMIC is one of the major churches in Bologna, Italy. The remains of Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), are buried inside the exquisite shrine Arca di San Domenico, made by Nicola Pisano and his workshop, Arnolfo di Cambio and with later additions by Niccolò dell'Arca and the young Michelangelo.BolognaSaint DominicDominicansArca di San DomenicoNicola PisanoArnolfo di CambioNiccolò dell'Arca Michelangelo

Dominic’s 9 Ways of Prayer The Nine Ways of Prayer of St. Dominic was written by an anonymous author, probably at Bologna, sometime between 1260 and This venerable document testifies to the eminent holiness of the Saint, showing something of his intimate life and intense love of God. The early manuscripts of the work were accompanied by miniature drawings to illustrate the various postures St. Dominic took while he was at prayer.

The Inclination

Prostration

Penance (Flagellation)

Genuflection

Contemplation

Earnest Intercession

Supplication

Thoughtful Reading

On The Journey

The Dominican Order