ST. DOMINIC AND THE INNKEEPER
In 1203, St. Dominic, a canon of the cathedral of Osma, journeyed with Bishop Diego through the south of France and encountered the Albigensian heretics who erroneously taught that the physical world is evil. This heresy “devalued not only our own humanity, but also Christ’s and the sacramental life of the Church” (Fr. Isidore Clarke OP).
St. Dominic had a long discussion with the Innkeeper about the true faith from early evening until the wee hours of the night. By morning, the man had recommitted to the Truth and Dominic had discovered his missionary purpose: to preach the Word of Christ. After such an experience of an all-night debate in Toulouse with an Albigensian innkeeper whom he converted, St. Dominic was moved by compassion and realized the great ignorance of the Faith that existed. Thus, he saw the need for preachers who could explain and defend the true faith.
Most of the time, a change of heart does not happen overnight, but we should not despair, rather we must keep on preaching and witnessing until the heresy is 'out', and the Truth is 'in', until Incredulity is 'out' and the Faith is 'in', until skepticism is 'out and the Good News is 'in'.
May we journey with St. Dominic from being an 'innkeeper' into an 'in'-keeper, and keep the faith!
