Dominic was born in the year 1170 in Castile, Spain, had a solid education and was ordained priest in the diocese of Osma. In 1203 this young priest accompanied his Bishop, Diego de Avecedo, on a diplomatic mission to Denmark on behalf of King Alphonso VIII of Castile. During their travels through Southern France, they encountered many Albigensian heretics who denied the Incarnation and the Sacraments on the ground that all matter was evil. These heretics led a life of heroic asceticism and apparent holiness. The faithful in large numbers followed this misguided group. Back in France after his diplomatic assignment, Dominic realized that preachers of higher caliber and sensitivity were required to analyze, argue, refute and convert the Albigensians. Therefore, he gathered around him six faithful and committed companions and in 1215 founded at Toulouse a religious Order with monastic rules of prayer and penance. They adopted a method of preaching, which combined intellectual discipline, simple life style and openness to truth, no matter wherever that truth be. The ideal before him was to pass on the fruits of contemplation to day-to-day life. While the attempts of the Church to crush Albigensianism through military force was a dismal failure, the efforts of Dominic and his followers through simple life style, meaningful explanation of the Gospel, regular prayer life and recitation of the Rosary turned out to be an instant success among the ordinary faithful. The leaders of the movement were won over through love, persuasion and dialogue by the intellectual giants of the new Religious Order commonly known as the Dominicans or Order of Preachers (O.P.). In the midst of all discomfort, opposition, challenges and struggles, nothing but praises of God flowed from Dominic’s lips. During his last moments, he requested that he be allowed to die on the floor covered with sack clothes and ashes. Dominic went for his eternal glory on August 6, 1221 and was declared a saint in 1234.
Reflection: Dominic had the courage to confront the papal Legate and state that the heretics win proselytes neither by display of power and pomp, nor by gorgeous apparel nor by military might but by zealous preaching and austere living. He insisted, “ Zeal must be met by zeal, humility by humility, false sanctity by real sanctity, preaching falsehood by preaching truth.” An ideology can be defeated only by a superior ideology, not by force.
The only book I use (to prepare sermons) is the book of love.
(St. Dominic)
