St Dominic: Stuff is Good

Today in the book In Caelo et in Terra, we read about St Dominic. He was the founder of the Dominican order! He was born in 1170, during a time when many people were living lives full of decadence and overindulgence in food and sex. In response to this sinful behavior, a heresy called Albigensianism arose, which taught that the physical world, pleasure, and especially sexual intimacy are sinful and evil. 

Dominic began preaching against the Albigensians, making it clear to his listeners that the things of the world - food and pleasure and sexual intimacy - are good. God made them. Overindulgence in these things, as in most things, is where we go wrong. He began teaching a group of men and women, who then went on to preach the truth as well. He met Francis of Assisi and they both learned much from the other. He eventually founded the Dominican order, which emphasized that the material world is good, but they also took a stance against overindulgence by taking vows of poverty. You can read more about him here.

That's an important lesson for us today, as well. It's easy to think of the stuff of the world - computers and cell phones and video games and movies - as being evil. There are some who feel like we should get rid of all of these things and return to a simpler life. And perhaps living a simple life IS what God is calling you to do. But STUFF isn't evil. It's just stuff. It can be used for good or for evil. There is so much you can learn on the internet. There are so many people's lives you can impact in a positive way through your computer, your cell phone, even through video games. Ask God what role these THINGS should play in your life.

God, thanks for the wisdom that we learn from this godly man, who spent a great amount of time in the Bible. St Dominic, pray for us.