Saint Dominic

1170 – 1221

Feast Day: August 4

St. Dominic de Guzman was born in Spain, in 1170.  As a student, he sold his books to feed the poor during a famine, and offered himself in ransom for a slave.  At the age of twenty-five he became superior of the Canons Regular of Osma, and accompanied his bishop to France.  There his heart was well-nigh broken by the ravages of the Albigensian heresy, and his life was henceforth devoted to the conversion of heretics and the defense of the Faith. 

For this end he established his threefold religious Order.  The convent for nuns was founded first, to rescue young girls from heresy and crime. Then a company of apostolic men gathered around him, and became the Order of Friar Preachers.  Lastly came the Tertiaries, persons of both sexes living in the world.  God blessed the new Order, and France, Italy, Spain, and England welcomed the Preaching Friars.  Our Lady took them under Her special protection, and whispered to St. Dominic as he preached. 

It was in 1208, while St. Dominic knelt in the little chapel of Notre Dame de la Prouille, and implored the great Mother of God to save the Church, that Our Lady appeared to him, gave him the Rosary, and bade him go forth and preach.  Beads in hand, he revived the courage of the Catholic troops [by his preaching], led them to victory [by his spiritual leadership] against overwhelming numbers, and finally crushed the [Albigensian] heresy. 

His nights were spent in prayer; and, though pure as a virgin, thrice before morning broke he scourged himself to blood.  His words rescued countless souls, and three times raised the dead to life. 

At length, on August 6, 1221, at the age of fifty-one, he gave up his soul to God.

Reflection — “God has never,” said St. Dominic, “refused me what I have asked”; and he has left us the Rosary, that we may learn, with Mary’s help, to pray easily and simply in the same holy trust.

This article was taken from the book, Lives of the Saints for Every Day in the Year, by Fr. Alban Butler.  It, along with the other books listed, is available from The Fatima Shoppe.

Dominican Saints by Dominican Novices.

St. Dominic’s Family  by Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P.

The Saints of the Week Archives