dominican saints

Bl. Carino, who was in the pay of the heretics for the accomplishment of his crime, after being seized upon the spot, had managed to escape from his prison. Whilst traversing Forli in his flight he was obliged to halt at the hospital, and asked to be allowed to make his confession to a Dominican who was both sympathetic and wise.

The Prior hastened thither, heard his confession, and to allay his terror, for he believed his crime to be unpardonable, said to him; “You have robbed God of a great religious: if you recover, become a religious yourself in reparation.” And indeed he recovered, obeyed the injunction, and presented himself at the convent, bringing with him the murderous weapon so as to keep it always before his eyes as a motive for contrition. His long life was spent in toil, fasting, penances and prayer — praying preferably at night in the church; and as he always knelt in the same place, the stone of the pavement, since preserved as an object of veneration, became worn into hollows by his knees. At the moment of death he implored the Prior to bury him among those criminals who had suffered the last penalty of the law. But as it happened, the miracles worked by his intercession, inclined his superiors to transfer his body into the church itself near to the relics of Blessed Marcolino (About 1290).

Prayer — Lord if Thy people sin against Thee, and merit being delivered into the hands of their enemies, but do penance with all their heart and soul, Thou shalt pardon them their iniquities.

Practice — Pray for those condemned to death; for the priests charged to assist them, and for the accomplices of their crimes; that is to say for those who by propagating irreligious and corruption of morals are remotely but effectively responsible for the crimes committed by poor ignorant people or by those in high station against society and against God.