Although he himself led an austere life, he was always radiant and joyful. While Dominic s response to the Albigenses was to reform his own life and preach the Gospel, Rome s response was to unleash five years of indiscriminate slaughter in southern France. Both Albigenses and Catholics were slain by Pope Innocent III s armies, giving that pope the distinction of having murdered more Catholics than Diocletian. Using force to overcome dissent is a constant temptation for church authorities, in the twentieth century no less than the thirteenth. Dominic reminds us that truth is never served by force.
Truth draws people to itself gently, by example alone.
The narrative above is printed on the back of each note card and is included with all plaques and photos. Robert Lentz 2001 Bridge Building Images, Inc.