St. Dominic - Prouille, France 1208 (Our Lady of the Rosary)

Feastday August 8th

Born 1170

Died 1221

Born in Caleruga, to a noble Castilian family related to the royal family, Domingo de Guzman was a Spanish preacher who God raised up to oppose the burgeoning Albegesian heresy in France. Before he was even born Dominic’s mother knew he was destined for great things after having a vision of him as a dog setting the world on fire with a torch it carried in its mouth. This would later become the symbol for the order which he founded, the Dominicans.

Later at his Baptism, his mother had a second vision of a star shining from his chest which became one of his symbols in art and led to his patronage of astronomy. Educated in philosophy and theology at the University of Palencia, he was later ordained a priest and joined the Augustinian canons of Osma.

Soon after Domingo (Dominic) founded an order of preaching friars who went on to halt the Albegesian heresy and establish monasteries all over the world. Dominic became discouraged at the progress of his mission at one point and it was then In 1208, while he was praying at a chapel in Prouille that he had a vision of Our Lady who showed him a wreath of roses representing the rosary. He was instructed to recite the rosary prayer daily and teach everyone who would listen as a remedy against heresy and sin.

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