St. Dominic de Guzman

An extraordinary Saint!

 

He Loved Our Lady; he loved the Rosary

 

As St. Thomas Becket was martyred in England, God was creating a greater saint in Caleruega, Spain.  Before the baby's mother conceived him, she saw in a vision that  'a dog with a burning torch in its mouth would come forth from her womb and set the world aflame!'  Later, she saw the moon on his forehead, yet at his Baptism, his godmother perceived it as a star.  The year was 1170 AD, and the child's name was Dominic.

Dominic had at least two brothers, one was older and another younger than him, and he had at least one sister.  However at an early age, his parents sent him to live with his mother's brother who was a parish priest.  For seven years he lived with his uncle priest; and, no doubt, living in a very religious environment caused Dominic to practice what he saw and heard.  When he was still so young, Dominic would deny himself common pleasures of a child - such as playing games or sleeping on a bed.

At the age of fourteen, he was sent to the university in Palencia for about six years. There, he discovered that he loved to sing - especially the Ave Maris Stella and the Veni Creator; he continued to study the Arts.  In Palencia, he also decided to sell his possessions, in order to give alms to the poor.

About the age of 20, Dominic pursued theological studies at Osma. He joined the Canons Regular –a community of clerics who followed the rule of St. Augustine. Five years later he was ordained to the priesthood. During his late night vigils, Father Dominic grew in holiness as he wept for sinners.  At the age of 31, he became the subprior (superior) of his community. 

During this time, the great heresy of Albigensianism spread rapidly throughout France and Europe. The Albigensianists believed that all material things, including the human body, were evil; they also rejected the Catholic teachings of the Trinity, Incarnation (which included the Mother of God), as well as the sacraments, hell and purgatory.

As a priest, his brethren testified that Dominic was exemplary in mortification, doctrine, and contemplation. He spent much time in prayer, sacrifice & mortifications of his body, and in teaching and preaching the Scriptures (particularly against the heresies of his age).  Some examples come to us from his daily life:  He held his own nightly vigils, is remembered for praying in (9) different bodily positions, and was often heard praying, "Oh Lord, what will become of poor sinners?"  Frequently, he would give his possessions to the poor; sometimes he served victims of war and violence.  About the only thing he ever believed in keeping were a few books; he fasted a lot & ate very little; he wore an abrasive hairshirt and had an iron chain forged around his waist; he slept very little and when he did, it was always on the floor and preferably in the chapel.  Some of the holy works he did consisted of numerous journeys on foot, from town to town preaching and teaching the Word of God in Italy, Spain, and France. (This was unusual because up until this point in time, only bishops would travel preaching.)  Dominic established an institute for nuns at Prouille; performed many miracles of charity; founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans); and he was for a time, pope appointed advisor, to the teacher of the papal court and censor of books. 

He possessed many spiritual gifts that God used to advance His kingdom:

Preaching and Teaching  - as was noted earlier. It was also said of him that "He always spoke either to God, or about God."

Humility – Dominic is quoted as saying (and living): "... heretics are more easily won over by examples of humility and virtue than by external display or hail of words."

Foreknowledge –Once he gathered his community together to announce the forthcoming death of four of the friars.  Within 1-2 weeks, two of the friars died and another two left the Order for worldliness.

Miracles – A couple of times after begging all day, his friars had no food to eat.

Dominic gathered them around their empty table, bowed his head, and thanked God for their meal.  Within a very short time, 2 angels appeared with food to serve all.

On more than two occasions, his prayers raised people from the dead, back to life.

Courage & Faith – Hoping that he would one day be martyred, he drew near to mistreatment (to enemies spitting and throwing filth at him); and he would sing openly to God, placing himself in plain view of any potential assailants.

Levitation – It was twice testified that while praying in church, he was seen floating in the air.

Visions:   1) On July 22, 1206, the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene (and following 2 nights) he saw a globe of light descending upon a shrine of Our Lady at Prouille.  Dominic took it that he was to establish a convent for nuns at Prouille.  In the following months, he converted 9 young women and the first "Dominican" convent opened that December. St. Mary Magdalene, not only became their patroness and mother, but would also become the same, to the Order of Preachers soon to be born.

               2) Once while praying in the old St. Peter's Basilica, Dominic saw the Apostle Peter hand him a staff, and the Apostle Paul hand him a book. Together they spoke to him and said, "Go and preach, because you have been chosen by God for this work."  [Later he walked with a staff in one hand, and carried the epistles of St. Paul and Gospel of St. Matthew, in the other.  The texts - he could recite all by heart].

               3) He had visions of Our Lady:  He once saw Her sprinkling holy water over the brethren as they slept. Today, Dominican priors & prioresses sprinkle holy water over their communities, during night prayers (or Complines).

Pictures of art portray St. Dominic receiving a rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Did she in fact give him the first rosary?  No, it did not happen that way.  Traditionally, it is understood, that the rosary (as we know it today) had not yet come into existence.  However, it is believed that Our Lady told him to combine the 150 Aves & Pater Nosters (prayers that religious and faithful were praying at that time) with his preaching on the Mysteries of our salvation.  And, he was to promote the recitation of this "rosary," particularly, as a spiritual weapon against evil & heresies. Dominic was the Blessed Mother's fervent servant in advancing the formulation, and use of, the rosary in prayer and meditation. 

“Whatever you ask through the rosary, shall be granted.”

Promise of Our Lady to St. Dominic

Dominic's death:

Suffering from severe exhaustion and high fever, he refused to be put on a bed.  He asked, instead, to lay on the floor of a borrowed cell, in a borrowed habit – for he had none of his own.  He spoke to his spiritual children final words emphasizing charity, poverty and prayer.  And he said to them, "Do not weep, my children, I shall be more useful to you where I am going than I have ever been in this life."  Then, he turned to the elders of his Order and affirmed to them that he had kept his vows including the vow of virginity all of his life.  He died at 6 pm on Friday, August 6, 1221 – on the Feast of the Transfiguration (a feast for prophets & apostles).  St. Dominic had lived 51 years.

Miracles continued to follow and devotion to the saint grew. In 1233, his church needed to expand its building, so Dominic's body was moved.  At the Translation of his remains, a gentle aroma like a sweet perfume filled the air to the delight of all.  Within a year of the translation, after collecting depositions and testimonies, Dominic was canonized a saint.  The year was 1234, only 13 yrs. after his death.

Francis of Assisi was a spiritual contemporary of Dominic de Guzman.  In fact it is believed that they once met each other in Rome.  Today in St. Peter's Basilica, colossal statues of St. Francis and St. Dominic flank both sides of the Chair of St. Peter.

St. Dominic also appears in the famous painting of "the Assumption" in Rome's church, St. John Lateran. 

St. Catherine of Siena (Dominican third order) once heard the voice of the Eternal Father say to her ". . . Dominic, this son who is Mine by adoption, shaped every act he did, from his infancy till the last day of his life, by obedience to my commandments.  Never once did he disobey a command of Mine. . ."