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Catholic education is filled with Dominican teachers, schools, and universities—but how much do we know about the awe-inspiring saint who founded their order?
Here are a few fascinating facts about the extraordinary man who “set the world on fire” through his preaching, and the Order of Preachers he founded.
1Set apart for a purpose
Before he was even born, Dominic de Guzmán seemed set apart for a special mission. His mother, Jane of Aza, dreamed that a dog leaped from her womb carrying a torch in its mouth and “set the whole earth on fire.”
2"Dogs of God"
Dominic founded the order that became known as the Dominicans. The Latin form of this name, Dominicanus, is derived from Dominic’s name ("Domingo" in Spanish). And it can also be read as a play on the words “Domini canis” or “dogs of the Lord.” This is why Dominic is often shown with a dog holding a torch in its mouth.
3Confronting heresy
Born in Calaruega, Spain, in 1170, Dominic studied theology and the arts, eventually joining an Augustinian monastery. He was known for his charity to the poor and dedicated himself to converting members of a heretical sect in southern France, the Albigensians.
His missionary work led to this tongue-in-cheek Catholic joke:
A Dominican friar and a Jesuit walk into a bar. The bartender approaches them and asks them, “Which religious order is better, the Dominicans or the Jesuits?” The friar laughs and responds, “Well, the Dominicans were founded to confront the Albigensians, and the Jesuits were founded to confront Protestants. Now, let me ask you something. When was the last time you met an Albigensian?”
4A dual mission
In 1215, he established a house in Toulouse with six other men and began to dedicate their community to the twin missions of education and preaching. In 1217, the pope granted him authority for what he called the Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum, abbreviated O.P.), which we now popularly call the Dominican Order.
5Devoted to the Rosary
He spent the rest of his life traveling and working to establish this new brotherhood, giving special attention to spreading devotion to the Rosary. Indeed, it was through him that the Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the method we use today. St. Dominic received this spiritual weapon from the Blessed Virgin in a vision in 1214.
St. Dominic saw the need for generous charity, good education, and dedicated prayer in converting hearts and minds. And he did whatever he could to contribute to those aims.
St. Dominic, pray for us!
