Blessed Dominic Barberi was born in Viterbo, Italy, on May 22, 1792. At 22, he gave up farming work and, called by God to religious life, he entered the Passionist congregation. Gifted with a good mind and heart, he was ordained a priest and devoted himself to teaching, preaching, spiritual direction and writing philosophical, theological, and spiritual treatises. His feast day is August 26.

In 1840, Dominic left Italy to bring the Passionist community to Ere, Belgium. Then, in 1842, he went to England and became a popular preacher of missions and retreats, establishing a Passionist retreat at Aston Hall, near Stone.

 Blessed Dominic worked for the unity of the Church — a mission God called him to from his youth. He longed for the return of “separated brethren” to the Catholic Church — an expression coined by him. He anticipated by 150 years the present ecumenical movement based on love, dialogue, respect for conscience and mutual discernment. 

Besides a desire to dialogue with other religious traditions, Dominic also wished to speak to the “lost sheep” of this world through preaching missions. Popular missions, stressing basic catechesis and devotional prayer, were then the primary way the Roman Catholic reached out to the peoples of Europe and also the Americas. Dominic preached countless missions in England, even though he spoke a broken English.  

People found him intelligent, friendly, respectful, caring and a deeply spiritual man. The Anglican world found him a man of dialogue bringing the fresh air of a new religious springtime. Many Anglicans, John Henry Newman among them, turned to the Catholic Church through his example. Blessed Dominic received the profession of faith of the future Cardinal and now Saint John Henry Newman, then esteemed as “the Pope of the Protestants, their great spokesman, one of the most learned men of England”.  For Newman Dominic was a good priest, learned and holy. He said he was Dominic’s “convert and penitent”.

Domenic died in Reading, near London, England on August 27, 1849. His grave in Sutton, St. Helens, England has become a place of pilgrimage for the English people. Pope Paul VI declared him “Blessed” on October 27, 1963 during Vatican II, calling him an example of ecumenism and describing him as an apostle of unity.

“Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made me a sharp-edged sword.” (Is 49:1-2)

Lord, you sent Blessed Dominic to seek out the lost sheep of your flock by preaching your truth and witnessing to your love.

May we follow his example and build up the unity of your Church as a sign of faith and love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.