His Word Today: Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic at Prayer
El Greco (circa 1605)

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of Saint Dominic, a Spanish priest and the founder of the Dominican Order.  He was born in Caleruega, halfway between Osma and Aranda da Duero in Old Castile (Spain).

Dominic was educated in the schools of Palencia (they became a university soon afterwards) where he devoted six years to the arts and four to theology. In 1191, when Spain was desolated by famine,[9] young Dominic gave away his money and sold his clothes, furniture and even precious manuscripts to feed the hungry. In 1194, around the age of twenty-five, Dominic joined the Canons Regular in the canonry in the Cathedral of Osma, following the rule of Saint Augustine.

Around 1205, Dominic began a program in the south of France aimed at converting the Cathars, a Christian religious sect with gnostic and dualistic beliefs, which the Roman Catholic Church deemed heretical. As part of this, Catholic-Cathar public debates were held at Verfeil, Servian, Pamiers, Montréal and elsewhere. Dominic concluded that only preachers who displayed real sanctity, humility and asceticism could win over convinced Cathar believers. However, even Dominic managed only a few converts among the Cathars.

In 1215, Dominic and six of his followers established themselves  in a house given by Peter Seila, a rich resident of Toulouse. Dominic saw the need for a new type of organization to address the spiritual needs of the growing cities of the era, one that would combine dedication and systematic education, with more organizational flexibility than either monastic orders or the secular clergy. He subjected himself and his companions to the monastic rules of prayer and penance; and meanwhile received written authority to preach throughout the territory of Toulouse.

In the same year, Dominic went to Rome to secure the approval of the Pope, Innocent III. He returned to Rome a year later, and was finally granted written authority in December 1216 and January 1217 by the new pope, Honorius III for an order to be named The Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum, popularly known as the Dominican Order).

The Dominicans still exist today, preaching God's word so that all those who hear it can be restored and rebuilt (cf Jer 31:4).  May His word always find a place in our hearts and fill us with joy.

Have a great day.