Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic was a famous Catholic priest from Spain.

He was born in a place called Caleruega around the year 1170. His family name was de Guzmán. Some old stories tell of a special dream his mother had before he was born. She dreamed of a dog carrying a flaming torch in its mouth. This dog seemed to set the whole earth on fire. Because of this, people later called his group the "Dog of the Lord." This was a play on the Latin name for his order, which is Dominicanus.

Dominic was known for being very kind to people in need. In 1191, a famine hit Spain and caused many people to go hungry. Young Dominic decided to help them in a big way. He sold his clothes and his furniture to buy food. He even sold his precious books and manuscripts. He famously asked his fellow students if he should study from "dead skins" while men were dying of hunger. Later, he became a priest and worked in the Cathedral of Osma. He even went on a long trip to Denmark to help with a royal marriage.

During a trip through France, Dominic saw a group called the Cathars. These people had very different religious beliefs than the Catholic Church. Dominic and his friend Diego de Acebo thought the Church needed to live more simply to reach people. They decided to live a very plain life to help convert the Cathars. In late 1206, they set up a base at the Monastery of Our Lady of Prouille. This place also helped women who had lived in Cathar houses.

Dominic wanted to create a new kind of group for the growing cities. He wanted his followers to be both dedicated to prayer and very well educated. In 1215, he and his followers moved into a new house. He traveled to Rome to ask the Pope for official permission. In December 1216, Pope Honorius III gave him authority to form the Order of Preachers.

Tradition says that in 1208, Dominic had a vision of the Virgin Mary. In this vision, she gave him a rosary. This helped make the rosary a very important tool for his followers.

Dominic spent much of his life traveling to help his growing brotherhood. He often traveled on foot and lived very simply. He sometimes wore very plain clothes and did not use a bed. He eventually made his headquarters in Rome at the Basilica of Santa Sabina.

Dominic died in Bologna, Italy, in August 1221. He was fifty-one years old when he passed away. He had worked very hard for his mission throughout his entire life. Later, in 1234, the Church named him a saint. Today, he is known as the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientists.