Founder of the
Order of Preachers, commonly known as the
Dominican Order; born at Calaroga, in
Old Castile, c. 1170; died 6 August, 1221. His
parents, Felix Guzmanand Joanna of Aza, undoubtedly belonged to the nobility of
Spain, though probably neither was connected with the reigning house of
Castile, as some of the
saint'sbiographers assert. Of Felix Guzman, personally, little is known, except that he was in every sense the worthy head of a
family of
saints. To nobility of blood Joanna ofAza added a nobility of
soul which so enshrined her in the popular veneration that in 1828 she was
solemnly beatified by
Leo XII. The example of such
parents was not without its effect upon their children. Not only Saint Dominic but also his brothers, Antonio and Manes, were distinguished for their extraordinary
sanctity. Antonio, the eldest, became a
secular priest and, having distributed his patrimony to the
poor, entered a
hospital where he spent his life ministering to the sick. Manes, following in the footsteps of Dominic, became a Friar Preacher, and was
beatified by
Gregory XVI.
The birth and infancy of the
saint were attended by many marvels forecasting his heroic
sanctity and great achievements in the cause of religion. From his seventh to his fourteenth year he pursued his elementary studies under the tutelage of his maternal uncle, the
archpriest of Gumiel d'Izan, not far distant from Calaroga. In 1184 Saint Dominic entered the
University of
Palencia. Here he remained for ten years prosecuting his studies with such ardour and success that throughout the ephemeralexistence of that institution he was held up to the admiration of its scholars as all that a student should be. Amid the frivolities and dissipations of a
university city, thelife of the future saint was characterized by seriousness of purpose and an austerity of manner which singled him out as one from whom great things might be expected in the future. But more than once he
proved that under this austere exterior he carried a heart as tender as a
woman's. On one occasion he sold his books, annotated with his own hand, to relieve the starving poor of
Palencia. His biographer and contemporary, Bartholomew of Trent, states that twice he tried to sell himself intoslavery to obtain money for the liberation of those who were held in captivity by the
Moors. These facts are worthy of mention in view of the cynical and saturninecharacter which some non-Catholic writers have endeavoured to foist upon one of the most charitable of men. Concerning the
date of his
ordination his biographers aresilent; nor is there anything from which that
date can be inferred with any degree of
certainty. According to the deposition of Brother Stephen, Prior Provincial of
Lombardy, given in the process of
canonization, Dominic was still a student at
Palencia when Don Martin de Bazan, the
Bishop of
Osma, called him to membership in the
cathedral chapter for the purpose of assisting in its reform. The
bishop realized the importance to his plan of reform of having constantly before his canons the example of one of Dominic's eminent
holiness. Nor was he disappointed in the result. In recognition of the part he had taken in converting its members into canons regular, Dominic was appointed sub-prior of the reformed chapter. On the accession of Don Diego d'Azevedo to the Bishopric of
Osma in 1201, Dominic became superior of thechapter with the title of prior. As a canon of
Osma, he spent nine years of his life hidden in
God and rapt in contemplation, scarcely passing beyond the confines of the
chapter house.
In 1203 Alfonso IX, King of Castile, deputed the
Bishop of
Osma to demand from the Lord of the Marches, presumably a
Danish prince, the hand of his daughter on behalf of the king's son, Prince Ferdinand. For his companion on this embassy Don Diego chose Saint Dominic. Passing through
Toulouse in the pursuit of their mission, they beheld with amazement and sorrow the work of spiritual ruin wrought by the
Albigensian heresy. It was in the contemplation of this scene that Dominic first conceived the
idea of founding an order for the purpose of combating
heresy and spreading the light of the Gospel by preaching to the ends of the then known world. Their mission having ended successfully, Diego and Dominic were dispatched on a second embassy, accompanied by a splendid retinue, to escort the
betrothed princess to Castile. This mission, however, was brought to a sudden close by the death of the young
woman in question. The two
ecclesiastics were now free to go where they would, and they set out for
Rome, arriving there towards the end of 1204. The purpose of this was to enable Diego to resign his
bishopric that he might devote himself to theconversion of unbelievers in distant lands.
Innocent III, however, refused to approve this project, and instead sent the
bishop and his companion to Languedoc to join forces with the
Cistercians, to whom he had entrusted the
crusade against the
Albigenses. The scene that confronted them on their arrival in Languedoc was by no means an encouraging one. The
Cistercians, on account of their worldly manner of living, had made little or no headway against the
Albigenses. They had entered upon their work with considerable pomp, attended by a brilliant retinue, and well provided with the comforts of life. To this display of worldliness the leaders of the
hereticsopposed a rigid asceticism which commanded the respect and admiration of their followers. Diego and Dominic quickly saw that the failure of the
Cistercian apostolatewas due to the
monks' indulgent habits, and finally prevailed upon them to adopt a more austere manner of life. The result was at once apparent in a greatly increased number of converts. Theological disputations played a prominent part in the propaganda of the
heretics. Dominic and his companion, therefore, lost no time in engaging their opponents in this kind of
theological exposition. Whenever the opportunity offered, they accepted the gage of battle. The thorough training that the
saint had received at
Palencia now
proved of inestimable value to him in his encounters with the
heretics. Unable to refute his arguments or counteract the influence of his preaching, they visited their
hatred upon him by means of repeated insults and threats of physical
violence. With Prouille for his head-quarters, he laboured by turns inFanjeaux,
Montpellier,
Servian, Béziers, and
Carcassonne. Early in his apostolate around Prouille the
saint realized the necessity of an institution that would protect the
women of that country from the influence of the
heretics. Many of them had already embraced
Albigensianism and were its most active propagandists. These
womenerected
convents, to which the children of the
Catholic nobility were often sent—for want of something better—to receive an
education, and, in effect, if not on purpose, to be tainted with the spirit of
heresy. It was needful, too, that
women converted from
heresy should be safeguarded against the
evil influence of their own homes. To supply these deficiencies, Saint Dominic, with the permission of Foulques,
Bishop of
Toulouse, established a
convent at Prouille in 1206. To this community, and afterwards to that of Saint Sixtus, at
Rome, he gave the rule and constitutions which have ever since guided the
nuns of the Second
Order of Saint Dominic.
The year 1208 opens a new epoch in the eventful life of the founder. On 15 January of that year
Pierre de Castelnau, one of the
Cistercian legates, was assassinated. This abominable crime precipitated the
crusade under Simon de Montfort, which led to the temporary subjugation of the
heretics. Saint Dominic participated in the stirring scenes that followed, but always on the side of mercy, wielding the arms of the spirit while others wrought death and desolation with the sword. Some historiansassert that during the sack of Béziers, Dominic appeared in the streets of that city, cross in hand, interceding for the lives of the
women and children, the aged and the infirm. This testimony, however, is based upon documents which
Touron regards as certainly
apocryphal. The testimony of the most reliable historians tends to provethat the
saint was neither in the city nor in its vicinity when Béziers was sacked by the
crusaders. We find him generally during this period following the
Catholic army, reviving religion and reconciling
heretics in the cities that had capitulated to, or had been taken by, the victorious de Montfort. It was probably 1 September, 1209, thatSaint Dominic first came in contact with Simon de Montfort and formed with him that intimate friendship which was to last till the death of the
brave crusader under the walls of
Toulouse (25 June, 1218). We find him by the side of de Montfort at the siege of Lavaur in 1211, and again in 1212, at the capture of La Penne d'Ajen. In the latter part of 1212 he was at
Pamiers labouring, at the invitation of de Montfort, for the restoration of religion and morality. Lastly, just before the battle of Muret, 12 September, 1213, the
saint is again found in the council that preceded the battle. During the progress of the conflict, he
knelt before the altar in the church of Saint-Jacques,
praying for the triumph of the
Catholic arms. So remarkable was the victory of the
crusaders at Muret that Simon de Montfort regarded it as altogether
miraculous, and piously attributed it to the
prayers of Saint Dominic. In gratitude to
God for this decisive victory, the
crusader erected a
chapel in the church of Saint-Jacques, which he dedicated, it is said, to
Our Lady of the
Rosary. It would appear, therefore, that the devotion of the
Rosary, which tradition says was revealed to Saint Dominic, had come into general use about this time. To this period, too, has been ascribed the foundation of the
Inquisition by Saint Dominic, and his appointment as the first
Inquisitor. As both these much controverted questions will receive special treatment elsewhere in this work, it will suffice for our present purpose to note that the
Inquisition was in operation in 1198, or seven years before the
saint took part in the apostolate in Languedoc, and while he was still an obscure canon regular at
Osma. If he was for a certain time identified with the operations of the
Inquisition, it was only in the capacity of a
theologian passing upon the
orthodoxy of the accused. Whatever influence he may have had with the judges of that much maligned institution was always employed on the side of mercy and forbearance, as witness the classic case of Ponce Roger.
In the meantime, the
saint's increasing reputation for heroic
sanctity,
apostolic zeal, and profound learning
caused him to be much sought after as a candidate for various
bishoprics. Three distinct efforts were made to raise him to the episcopate. In July, 1212, the chapter of Béziers chose him for their
bishop. Again, the canons of Saint-Lizier wished him to succeed Garcias de l'Orte as
Bishop of Comminges. Lastly, in 1215 an effort was made by Garcias de l'Orte himself, who had been transferred from Comminges to
Auch, to make him
Bishop of
Navarre. But Saint Dominic absolutely refused all episcopal honours, saying that he would rather take flight in the night, with nothing but his staff, than accept the episcopate. From Muret Dominic returned to
Carcassonne, where he resumed his preaching with unqualified success. It was not until 1214 that he returned to
Toulouse. In the meantime the influence of his preaching and the eminent
holiness of his life had drawn around him a little band ofdevoted disciples eager to follow wherever he might lead. Saint Dominic had never for a moment forgotten his purpose, formed eleven years before, of founding a
religious order to combat
heresy and propagate religious
truth. The time now seemed opportune for the realization of his plan. With the approval of Bishop Foulques of
Toulouse, he began the organization of his little band of followers. That Dominic and his companions might possess a fixed source of revenue Foulques made him
chaplain of Fanjeaux and in July, 1215, canonically established the community as a religious congregation of his
diocese, whose mission was the propagation of
truedoctrine and good
morals, and the extirpation of
heresy. During this same year Pierre Seilan, a wealthy citizen of
Toulouse, who had placed himself under the direction of Saint Dominic, put at their disposal his own commodious dwelling. In this way the first
convent of the
Order of Preachers was founded on 25 April, 1215. But they dwelt here only a year when Foulques established them in the church of
Saints Romanus. Though the little community had
proved amply the need of its mission and the efficiency of its service to the
Church, it was far from satisfying the full purpose of its founder. It was at best but a
diocesan congregation, and Saint Dominic haddreamed of a world-order that would carry its apostolate to the ends of the earth. But, unknown to the
saint, events were shaping themselves for the realization of hishopes. In November, 1215, an
ecumenical council was to meet at
Rome "to deliberate on the improvement of
morals, the extinction of
heresy, and the strengthening of the
faith". This was identically the mission Saint Dominic had determined on for his order. With the
Bishop of
Toulouse, he was present at the deliberations of thiscouncil. From the very first session it seemed that events conspired to bring his plans to a successful issue. The council bitterly arraigned the
bishops for their neglect of preaching. In canon X they were directed to delegate capable men to preach the word of
God to the people. Under these circumstances, it would reasonably appear thatDominic's request for confirmation of an order designed to carry out the mandates of the council would be joyfully granted. But while the council was anxious that thesereforms should be put into effect as speedily as possible, it was at the same time opposed to the institution of any new
religious orders, and had legislated to that effect in no uncertain terms. Moreover, preaching had always been looked upon as primarily a function of the episcopate. To bestow this office on an unknown and untried body of simple
priests seemed too original and too bold in its conception to appeal to the conservative
prelates who influenced the deliberations of the council. When, therefore, his petition for the
approbation of his infant institute was refused, it could not have been wholly unexpected by Saint Dominic.
Returning to Languedoc at the close of the council in December, 1215, the founder gathered about him his little band of followers and informed them of the wish of thecouncil that there should be no new rules for
religious orders. Thereupon they adopted the ancient rule of Saint Augustine, which, on account of its generality, would easily lend itself to any form they might wish to give it. This done, Saint Dominic again appeared before the
pope in the month of August, 1216, and again solicited theconfirmation of his order. This time he was received more favourably, and on 22 December, 1216, the
Bull of confirmation was issued.
Saint Dominic spent the following
Lent preaching in various churches in
Rome, and before the
pope and the
papal court. It was at this time that he received the office and title of
Master of the Sacred Palace, or Pope's Theologian, as it is more commonly called. This office has been held uninterruptedly by members of the order from the founder's time to the present day. On 15 August, 1217, he gathered the brethren about him at Prouille to deliberate on the affairs of the order. He had determined upon the heroic plan of dispersing his little band of seventeen unformed followers over all
Europe. The result
proved the wisdom of an act which, to the eye of human
prudence at least, seemed little short of
suicidal. To facilitate the spread of the order,
Honorius III, on 11 Feb., 1218, addressed a
Bull to all
archbishops,
bishops,
abbots, and
priors, requesting their favour on behalf of the
Order of Preachers. By another
Bull,
dated 3 Dec., 1218,
Honorius III bestowed upon the order the church ofSaint Sixtus in
Rome. Here, amid the
tombs of the Appian Way, was founded the first
monastery of the order in
Rome. Shortly after taking possession of Saint Sixtus, at the invitation of Honorius, Saint Dominic began the somewhat difficult task of restoring the pristine observance of religious discipline among the various Romancommunities of
women. In a comparatively short time the work was accomplished, to the great satisfaction of the
pope. His own career at the
University of
Palencia, and the practical use to which he had put it in his encounters with the
Albigenses, as well as his keen appreciation of the needs of the time, convinced the
saint that to ensure the highest efficiency of the work of the apostolate, his followers should be afforded the best
educational advantages obtainable. It was for this reason that on the dispersal of the brethren at Prouille he dispatched Matthew of
France and two companions to
Paris. A foundation was made in the vicinity of the
university, and the
friars took possession in October, 1217. Matthew of
France was appointed superior, and Michael de Fabra was placed in charge of the studies with the title of Lecturer. On 6 August of the following year, Jean de Barastre, dean of Saint-Quentin and professor of
theology, bestowed on the community the hospice of Saint-Jaques, which he had built for his own use. Having effected a foundation at the
University of Paris, Saint Dominic next determined upon a settlement at the
University of Bologna. Bertrand of Garrigua, who had been summoned from
Paris, and John of Navarre, set out from
Rome, with letters from Pope Honorius, to make the desired foundation. On their arrival at Bologna, the church of Santa Maria della Mascarella was placed at their disposal. So rapidly did the Roman community of Saint Sixtus grow that the need of more commodious quarters soon became urgent. Honorius, who seemed to delight in supplying every need of the order and furthering its interests to the utmost of his power, met the emergency by bestowing on Saint Dominic the basilica of Santa Sabina.
Towards the end of 1218, having appointed Reginald of
Orléans his vicar in
Italy, the
saint, accompanied by several of his brethren, set out for
Spain. Bologna, Prouille,
Toulouse, and Fanjeaux were visited on the way. From Prouille two of the brethren were sent to establish a
convent at
Lyons. Segovia was reached just before
Christmas. In February of the following year he founded the first
monastery of the order in
Spain. Turning southward, he established a
convent for
women at
Madrid, similar to the one at Prouille. It is quite probable that on this journey he personally presided over the erection of a
convent in connexion with his alma mater, the
University of
Palencia. At the invitation of the
Bishop of
Barcelona, a house of the order was established in that city. Again bending his steps towards
Rome he recrossed the Pyrenees and visited the foundations at
Toulouse and
Paris. During his stay in the latter place he caused houses to be erected at
Limoges,
Metz,
Reims,
Poitiers, andOrléans, which in a short time became centres of
Dominican activity. From
Paris he directed his course towards
Italy, arriving in Bologna in July, 1219. Here he devoted several months to the religious formation of the brethren he found awaiting him, and then, as at Prouille, dispersed them over
Italy. Among the foundations made at this time were those at
Bergamo,
Asti,
Verona,
Florence,
Brescia, and
Faenza. From Bologna he went to
Viterbo. His arrival at the
papal court was the signal for the showering of new favours on the order. Notable among these marks of esteem were many complimentary letters addressed by Honorius to all those who had assisted the Fathers in their vinous foundations. In March of this same year Honorius, through his representatives, bestowed upon the order the church of San Eustorgio in
Milan. At the same time a foundation at
Viterbo was authorized. On his return to
Rome, towards the end of 1219, Dominic sent out letters to all the
convents announcing the first general chapter of the order, to be held at Bologna on the feast of the following Pentecost. Shortly before,
Honorius III, by a special
Brief, had conferred upon the founder the title of Master General, which till then he had held only by tacit consent. At the very first session of the chapter in the following spring the
saint startled his brethren by offering his resignation as master general. It is needless to say the resignation was not accepted and the founder remained at the head of the institute till the end of his life.
Soon after the close of the chapter of Bologna,
Honorius III addressed letters to the
abbeys and
priories of San Vittorio, Sillia, Mansu, Floria, Vallombrosa, and Aquila, ordering that several of their religious be deputed to begin, under the leadership of Saint Dominic, a preaching
crusade in
Lombardy, where
heresy had developed alarming proportions. For some reason or other the plans of the
pope were never realized. The promised support failing, Dominic, with a little band of his own brethren, threw himself into the field, and, as the event
proved, spent himself in an effort to bring back the
heretics to their allegiance to the
Church. It is said that 100,000 unbelievers were converted by the preaching and the
miracles of the
saint. According to
Lacordaire and others, it was during his preaching in
Lombardy that the
saintinstituted the Militia of Jesus Christ, or the third order, as it is commonly called, consisting of men and
women living in the world, to protect the
rights and
property of the Church. Towards the end of 1221 Saint Dominic returned to
Rome for the sixth and last time. Here he received many new and valuable concessions for the order. In January, February, and March of 1221 three consecutive
Bulls were issued commending the order to all the
prelates of the Church. The thirtieth of May, 1221, found him again at Bologna presiding over the second general chapter of the order. At the close of the chapter he set out for
Venice to visit
Cardinal Ugolino, to whom he was especially indebted for many substantial acts of kindness. He had scarcely returned to Bologna when a fatal illness attacked him. He died after three weeks of sickness, the many trials of which he bore with heroic patience. In a
Bull dated at
Spoleto, 13 July, 1234,
Gregory IX made his cult
obligatory throughout the
Church.
The life of St. Dominic was one of tireless effort in the, service of God. While he journeyed from place to place he
prayed and preached almost uninterruptedly. Hispenances were of such a nature as to cause the brethren, who accidentally discovered them, to fear the effect upon his life. While his charity was boundless he never permitted it to interfere with the stern sense of
duty that guided every action of his life. If he abominated
heresy and laboured untiringly for its extirpation it was because he
loved truth and
loved the
souls of those among whom he laboured. He never failed to distinguish between
sin and the sinner. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, if this athlete of
Christ, who had conquered himself before attempting the reformation of others, was more than once chosen to show forth the power of
God. The failure of the fire at Fanjeaux to consume the dissertation he had employed against the
heretics, and which was thrice thrown into the flames; the raising to life ofNapoleone Orsini; the appearance of the annals in the refectory of Saint Sixtus in response to his
prayers, are but a few of the
supernatural happenings by which
Godwas pleased to attest the eminent
holiness of His servant. We are not surprised, therefore, that, after signing the
Bull of
canonization on 13 July, 1234,
Gregory IXdeclared that he no more
doubted the saintliness of Saint Dominic than he did that of Saint Peter and
Saint Paul.
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