Make The Most Of It

We’re in the final part of Advent. The O Antiphons are in full swing, student’s are home (for the most part), Christmas parties at workplaces are happening, and parishes are slowly but surely bringing out the Christmas decorations.

In the media too — stores and sites through their commercials and sales are in their final push to get us to buy all the things. The Catholic blogosphere reminds us constantly to keep Christ in Christmas.

It’s so easy to skip over Advent, this penitential season in preparation for the coming of Christ, in favor of the more joyful Christmas season. But the waiting, the anticipation, the preparation can be a worthwhile part if we make the most of it. It’s in the work leading up to an event that makes the event much more enjoyable.

In the four and half years as a priest I’ve had the privilege of witnessing many weddings of former campus ministry students. If at all possible, I also attend the reception. At the reception the couple and their family and friends are much more relaxed. The couples I’ve asked about their preparation (marriage preparation as well as the preparation for the ceremony) have all said they would not forego any of it. Why? Because it gave them time to pause and talk and think and listen. It allowed them to make a better and more sure decision.

As a student brother I would go on several retreats or retreat-like days a year. Even now as a priest, I take at least six days of retreat a year. This is time away, time apart from society to focus on prayer and my relationship with God. This is very much a blessing that many people don’t get a chance to do. During these days I will usually bring a book or two to read. Often spiritual reading.

One such time, I came across the Miracles of St. Dominic as narrated by Sister Cecilia. These are the memories of Sister Cecilia, who knew St. Dominic as she told them to Sister Angelica. The miracle that I want to focus on is the fourth one she mentions.

4. Of the Demon Who Appeared in the Form of an Ape to Blessed Dominic as He Wrote

One night, when the brethren were still living at San Sisto, the blessed father, after spending a long time in prayer, left the church and, lighting a candle, sat down at one end of the dormitory to write. Suddenly a demon in the form of an ape stood before him and began to prance up and down, grimacing and taunting him with jesting verses. Whereupon Blessed Dominic motioned for him to stand still and, taking the lighted candle, handed it to the demon to hold before him. With the candle in his hand, the demon stood before him and continued to grimace and recite his verses. As the candle burned down, the ape’s fingers began to burn. At once he began to howl and twist and turn, as though anyone who had experienced the hell of eternal fire would be bothered by earthly fire. But Blessed Dominic motioned for him to be quiet. What could he do? He stood holding the candle until his index finger was seared down to where it meets the hand. This made him howl and twist all the more. Then Blessed Dominic took the ferule he always carried with him and gave the ape a whack and said, “Go away, evil one.” The blow sounded as though someone had struck a bladder filled with air. The ape flung himself through the nearest wall and never returned, but the stench he produced left no doubt as to its true identity.

Sister Cecilia heard the blessed father tell this story to the brethren and sisters and saw him mimic the ape’s gestures and grimaces.

This is one of my favorite stories about St. Dominic for many reasons - but mostly because he remains calm when he needs to. St. Dominic is calm during his whole encounter with the demon. But when St. Dominic is recounting the story, he mimic’s the ape’s gestures and grimaces.

Now, there are lots of things to be said about this encounter, but I only mention this part as an example that St. Dominic gives us about timing. St. Dominic is not in a hurry, and while likely annoyed by the demon, he puts the demon to work. Right now, all around us might be noise and clatter trying to get us to go in every which way. We may not always get the opportunity to take a retreat from all of it, even a short one. What can you do to put all of that tumult at the service of God?