Saint Dominic and His Mission

Saint Dominic had dedicated himself to a life of prayer and study as a canon regular at the Cathedral of Osma, Spain in 1197. When on a diplomatic mission through southern France, Dominic and his bishop, Diego, encountered the Cathar heresy. The Spaniards were filled with compassion and sought to counter this heresy by preaching and the example of their holy life. In the ensuing years, and with ecclesiastical approval, Dominic would gather around him a group of men, living a common life in evangelical poverty and dedicated to preaching for the salvation of souls, these were the first members of the Order of Preachers, commonly known as Dominicans.

In Saint Dominic and His Mission, two of Saint Dominic’s spiritual sons present a portrait of this Preacher of Grace using extensive research from the archives of the Order to present Dominic and his brethren in their historical context. The first section comprises two parts: a biographical sketch and an evaluation of hagiographic and historical accounts of the life of St. Dominic. It is said that St. Dominic’s gift to the Church is not extensive writings, but a way of life. The second section describes aspects of this distinctly evangelical form life including study and preaching, fraternal life, choral office and the rosary, democratic government, and living in the heart of the Church. In the third section, the authors enlist the help of art historians who present multiple pieces of artwork, ancient and modern, to better know and understand this Doctor of Truth. The final section is a chronology of the life of St. Dominic based on the work of the renowned English Dominic Simon Tugwell, OP. Readers will find that Saint Dominic, whose life and preaching was centered on the Word Incarnate, is a perfect friend and guide to us today as we experience a revival in reverence for the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.