Saint of the Day: St. Dominic of Silos

Benedictine Abbot (1000-1073)

His life

+ Dominic was born near Cañas, Spain. He spent much of his childhood working as a shepherd, and this instilled him in a love of quiet and solitude.

+ While still a young man, he became a monk in the abbey of Saint Millán de la Cogolla. Respected by his confreres, he was appointed prior of the monastery.

+ Because of a conflict with King Garcia III of Navarre, Dominic was forced to flee to the monastery of San Sebastian at Silos, where he was later elected abbot.

+ Under his care this struggling community flourished, and Dominic dedicated himself to ministries of healing and prayer.

+ Many miracles were attributed to Dominic during his life and he was immediately proclaimed after his death on December 20, 1073. Because of miracles benefiting expectant mothers attributed to his intercession, he came to be honored as one of the patron saints of pregnant women.

+ Saint Dominic of Silos is especially honored within the Order of Preachers, because, nearly a century after his death, Blessed Joan of Aza made a pilgrimage to his tomb and had a vision in which the saint promised that she would give birth to a son. The child was named Dominic and he would later establish a new religious community—the Dominicans.

For prayer and reflection

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

Prayer

O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word
the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel
and so became the dwelling-place of divinity,
filled with the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant, we pray, that by her example
we may in humility hold fast to your will.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for December 20)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.