St, Dominic (1175-6 August 1221), Presbyer, Friar*
St.
Dominic, like St. Ignatius of Loyola was born in Spain,
in what was then the Kingdom
of Castille. Little or nothing is known of his
family. He was educated in Palencia, and when
suffering famine in 1191 Dominic sold many of his possessions to help feed the
poor. In 1193 he joined the Canons
Regular in Osma. In 1215, he established
a monastery with six followers in Toulouse,
and was given permission by the bishop to preach throughout the district. In 1216 and 1217 he was given permission by
the Pope to establish the Order of Preachers (O.P.) By 1220 he and his friars were established in
the Basilica of San Sisto Vecchio,
although Dominic himself spent little time there, being occupied with preaching
all over Europe. He later moved to Bologna, and working to
the end died there as well.
He didn’t
eat meat, he observed the churches fasts and took the meanest chambers for
himself. He resisted efforts to be made bishop, and continued with his vision
to form a religious order to combat heresy through teaching, and to propagate
religious truth. On his deathbed he exhorted his followers to
practice charity, guard humility and make poverty their treasure.
He founded
the Dominican nuns to protect women from the heresy of the Albigenses and to
educate women in general.
Lord, you raised up your servant Dominic to preach and
encourage others to teach the true faith.
Help us and all your church seek always the truth, which is Yeshuah
haMoshiach, who lives and reigns with you and Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory
everlasting. Amen. (white)
*As we celebrate the Transfiguration on the last Sunday
before Lent, we now celebrate St. Dominic on the actual date of his death.
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