S DOMINIC (1170-1221) - 08th Aug

 Born in old Castile, Spain, he was trained for the priesthood by a priest-uncle, studied the arts and theology, and became a canon of the Cathedral at Osma, 

    where there was an attempt to revive the apostolic common life described in the Acts of the Apostles. On a journey through France with his Bishop, 

    he came face to face with the then virulent Albigensian heresy at Languedoc. The Albigensians held to two principles—one good, one evil—in the world. All matter is evil. 

    Hence, they denied the Incarnation and sacraments. They abstained from procreation and took a minimum of food and drink.

    The inner circle led what some people regarded as a heroic life of purity and asceticism not shared by ordinary followers. 

    Dominic sensed the need for the Church to combat this heresy, and was commissioned to be part of the preaching crusade against it. 

    He saw immediately why the preaching was not succeeding: the ordinary people admired and followed the ascetical heroes of the Albigenses. Understandably, 

    they were not impressed by the Catholic preachers who traveled with horse and retinues, stayed at the best inns and had servants. Dominic therefore, 

    with three Cistercians, began itinerant preaching according to the gospel ideal. He continued this work for 10 years, being successful

    with the ordinary people but not with the leaders. His fellow preachers gradually became a community, and in 1215 he founded a religious house at Toulouse, 

    the beginning of the Order of Preachers.

    Dominic is the patron saint of astronomers.




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