Life of Saint Dominic with Pictures

Domingo de Guzman was born into a noble family in Spain. Highly educated and a priest, he became a canon at the Cathedral of Osma. In the year 1203 Dominic traveled to southern France with his bishop on official business, and the trip changed the course of his life. He became aware of falsehood being taught rather than the true faith in southern France, what is today called the Albigensian heresy. Albigensianism had its roots in Albi, France and spread throughout southern France, Cathar country. Below is a picture of the Cathedral of Albi, built after the heresy was stomped out. The Cathedral was built as a fortress to protect the bishop since there was still some resistance present.

Dominic stayed in southern France to preach the faith with fervent zeal and joy. He soon attracted followers and they became the Order of Preachers, the Dominican Order. By preaching the Truth in charity the Dominicans stamped out error and brought southern France back into the fold of the Church. The plaque pictured below is from the Cathedral of Carcassonne, France, which gives witness to the presence of Dominic in the area. It reads, “Founder of the Preaching Brothers, Saint Dominic, preached Lent in this Church in 1213.”

Dominic established the first Dominican community in 1206, which was a community of religious sisters in Prouille, France.  He later established a community in 1214 in Toulouse, France, which became the center of operations for his traveling groups of preaching brothers. The Church of the Jacobins served as their mother church, which unfortunately is a museum today. Below is a picture of the beautiful church and an altar under which is buried one of Saint Dominic’s most well-known followers, Saint Thomas Aquinas.

The Order of Preachers received Papal approval in 1216 and was given the Convent of Saint Sixtus in Rome. The Sisters resided at Saint Sixtus while the men moved to the Church of Santa Sabina. This arrangement continues today, Dominican Sisters live at the Old Saint Sixtus while Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill serves as the international mother house of all Dominicans.

Saint Dominic died in 1221 and was buried at the Basilica of Saint Dominic, in Bologna, Italy. His tomb may not be as popular of a pilgrimage site as the tomb of Saint Francis in Assisi, but it is definitely a prayerful and peaceful place.

Having studied for four years at the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome, I have grown to love Dominican spirituality and greatly appreciate all which Dominic and his preachers have contributed to the Church.

Saint Dominic, pray for us!

All pictures are mine, all rights reserved.