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FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Dominic was born in Castile, Spain in the year 1170. He studied
theology at Palencia and was made canon of the church of Osma.
He worked effective against the Albigensian heresy through good
example and preaching.

The Albigensians believed that all things of the flesh were evil,
therefore they did not believe in the Incarnation of Christ. The
Albigensians lived austere, spartan lives. Because of this sparse
existence, they resisted the preachers who came to convert them.
The preachers lived rich existence and only served to solidify the
Albigensians' beliefs.

Dominic set out to convert the Albigensians but he realized that
unless there was a change in the lifestyle of the preachers no one
would be converted. Dominic and his companions banded together
to form a religious community called the Order of Preachers. The
Dominican Order took on a simple lifestyle, living what they preached
in community devoted to contemplation, study and preaching. In this
way, Dominic was instrumental in helping convert the Albigensians.
St. Dominic died in 1221. He is the patron of astronomers.

A popular story that exists about St. Dominic says that after receiving
a vision of a man dressed as a beggar who, like Dominic, would do
great things for the Faith. When Dominic met the beggar the next
day, he embraced him and said, "You are my companion and must
walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand
us." The beggar was St. Francis of Assisi and this meeting is
commemorated twice a year on the feast days of these two men by
the religious communities they founded.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must
either command them, or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a
hammer than an anvil. -St. Dominic

TODAY IN HISTORY

676 Death of St. Colman of Lindesfarne
1910 The Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments in the Vatican
issued the decree "Quam singulari," which recommending children
be permitted to receive Holy Communion when they reach the "age
of discretion" (i.e., about age 7).

TODAY'S TIDBIT

The Order of Preachers, also known as Dominicans, was founded in
1215 by St. Dominic. The mission of the order is to work for the
salvation of souls especially through preaching. The order is made
up of mendicant friars. The Dominicans have fostered theological
study since their inception. Two great Medieval Dominican
theologians are St. Albert the Great and St. Thomas Aquinas.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for peace