AUGUST 4TH, ST. DOMINIC, CONFESSOR

Month in honor of the Assumption of the BVM.

Dominic was a Spaniard, a son of the noble family of Guzman. He was born at Calaruega, in Old Castile, in the year of our Lord 1170, and was sent to be taught worldly and sacred learning at Palencia. He attained great success in his studies, and became, first, a Regular Canon of the Cathedral Church of Osma, and afterwards Founder of the Order of Friars Preachers. While his mother was great with child, she dreamt that what was in her womb was a little whelp dog with a lighted torch in his mouth, and that when she was delivered of him, he set all the world on fire. By this dream was figured that burning and shining light of holiness of life and power of doctrine, whereby he should enkindle godliness throughout whole nations. The end proved the truth of the image, for this is in good sooth what his work was, a work which he hath continued to do through the Brethren of his Order. But his wisdom and bravery were most chiefly shown in confounding the ~(Albigensian) heretics, who were fain, with their pestilential falsehoods, to corrupt the people of the county of Toulouse. In this business he spent seven years. Afterwards he came to Rome to the Fourth Lateran Council, along with the Bishop of Toulouse, that the Order which he had founded might be confirmed by Innocent III. While the matter was under consideration, Dominick, by the advice of the Pope, went home, that he might put his Rule into shape. He returned again to Rome in 1216, and obtained from Honorius III., the immediate successor of Innocent, the confirmation of the Order of Preachers. At Rome Dominic founded two Convents, one for men, and one for women. He raised three dead men to life, and worked many other miracles, where through the Order of Preachers became exceedingly spread abroad. By his work convents were already during his life-time established in all countries, and almost countless persons embraced the life of prayer and godliness. In the year of Christ 1221 he fell sick of a fever at Bologna. When he understood that he was about to die, he called together his brethren and disciples, and exhorted them to innocence and uprightness. Lastly, he left to them as his legacy, love, lowliness, and poverty, and as the brethren were all praying, and the words were being said, “Come ye to help him, ye Saints of God run ye to meet him, ye Angels”, he fell asleep in the Lord. It was the 6th day of August. Pope Gregory IX. afterwards placed his name among those of the Saints.