Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic Priest In the late 1100’s in Castile, Spain there was a The following year in 1215, a rich man in couple named Felix de Guzman and Juana de Aza. Felix Toulouse named Peter Seila donated a house to Dominic, was a wealthy and well respected man in the village of in which he and six of his followers began to reside. Caleruega. The couple had two sons, but as they grew, Seeing the needs stemming from the larger cities which his Juana was unable to bear any more children. In 1169 began to develop in this time, Dominic decided that there or 1170, Juana made a pilgrimage to the Benedictine was the need of a new type of organization to fulfill their Monastery in Santo Domingo de Silos. While there she spiritual needs. He sought to form a group that would is reported to have had a vision where a dog leapt from combine a systemic education with greater organization her womb, which was carrying a torch in its mouth and and flexibility than what was offered by the monastic set the world on fire. Soon after, in 1170 AD, she gave orders and the secular clergy. He sought and received birth to her son Dominic. Felix and Juana went on to raise written permission from Bishop Foulques to preach Dominic with the help of Juana’s uncle, who was an throughout the territory of Toulouse, and subjected archbishop. himself and his companions to the monastic rules of Dominic received his education in the schools of prayer and penance. Later that year, Dominic Palencia, where he studied art and theology for six years. accompanied Bishop Foulques to Rome to receive When Dominic was 21 in the year 1191, a severe famine permission from Pope Innocent III for Dominic to begin desolated Spain. In his effort to help feed the poor, a new order. When they arrived, the Fourth Lateran Dominic sold his clothes, furniture and even some of his Council was convened, and they were unable to receive manuscripts, and gave all his money away. In 1195, Saint written authority. Dominic joined the canonry of the Cathedral of Osma Pope Innocent III died soon after, and when Pope according to the rule of Saint Augustine. Honorius III was elected Pope, Dominic returned to Rome In the 11 and 1200’s, France was struggling with to request permission to begin his new order. In a heresy called Catharism, originating in the city of Albi. December of 1216, Pope Honorius III granted permission The Cathars, also called Albigensians after the town for Dominic to form “The Order of Preachers,” which where their movement took hold, saw matter as being evil, would become popularly known as Dominicans, likely and denied that Christ had taken on physical form. They derived from the Latin, Domini Canis, meaning “Dog of also taught that there was not one God, but two Gods, one the Lord.” good and one evil. They also taught that humans were the From there, the Dominican order began to grow sexless spirits of angels, which were punished by being relatively quickly. In 1218, Pope Honorius III gave the trapped in human form. They considered reproduction to convent of San Sisto Vecchio in Rome to Dominic, in the be a moral evil and would resort to sodomy to avoid hopes that the convent would be reformed under his conceiving children, and taught that one would be re- guidance. The following year, the Pope invited Dominic incarnated until they were able to enter heaven, but they to take up permanent residence in the basilica of Santa could only do so when they were re-incarnated as a man. Sabina, which Dominic and his companions moved in in In 1205, Dominic and his contemporary Diego de the year 1220. Acebo began to tour the south of France in an attempt to Although he was based in Rome, Dominic would convert the Cathars. Dominic believed that due to the travel extensively to maintain contact with the brothers extreme asceticism of the Cathar’s, only those who and friars of his order. Throughout his travels, Dominic displayed great sanctity, humility and asceticism could would abstain from meat, would wear little and poor win over and convicted Cathars. Despite this, even clothing, and would never sleep in a bed. His extensive Dominic would win over very few converts. travels, hard work, and austere lifestyle would take a toll The practice of using beads, and knotted prayer on him. At the age of 51, Dominic became sick with a ropes had been common in both the Catholic Church since fever. He finally arrived at the convent of St. Nicholas, in the 800’s to help the devout focus on their prayers and Bologna, Italy. There he lay on sacks stretched out over keep track of the number of times they had said a certain the ground, and preached charity, humility and poverty to prayer. During his time combating Catharism, Dominic his followers until he died on August 6th, 1221. Thirteen would employ this method of prayer, and in 1214 in the years later he was canonized in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX. church of Prouille, the Virgin Mary appeared to him as He is the Patron of Astronomers and Astronomy, and his Our Lady of the Rosary, and taught Dominic this prayer feast day is August 8th. His mother Joan of Aza was which would promote and teach throughout his life. Beatified in 1205 by Pope Leo XII, her feast day is August 2nd. .

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