Fr. Dominic de Guzmán was a simple Spanish priest who happened to live in an extremely complicated time and place. Sent to southern France, a region troubled by the Albigensian heresy, Dominic found himself at the forefront of a spiritual battle he didn’t quite know how to fight.
The pervasive Albigensian heresy wrapped itself around the head and hearts of misled Christians, leading many away from the Faith. Dominic, traveling on a mission with his bishop, saw firsthand the confusion and spiritual darkness spreading through the land.
He also saw how difficult it was to fight. People were not educated enough in their Faith and were being led astray, but if Dominic merely argued with them intellectually, he would give them the wrong image of the true Faith, which leads through love and trust.
One night, while staying at an inn, Dominic engaged the innkeeper—a heretic—in conversation.
Santo Domingo de Guzmán, portrait by the Spanish painter Claudio Coello
Overcome by the Holy Spirit, Dominic knew that he must not simply argue with this man, despite the falsehoods the innkeeper was putting forward.
Instead of debating, Dominic patiently listened and finally, when the innkeeper finished speaking, Dominic simply shared the truths of the Catholic Faith. Dominic was able to communicate with such clarity and love that by morning, the innkeeper, in a moment of miraculous conversion, had renounced his heretical beliefs.
Dominic took all this to prayer and to the intercession of Our Lady. He was quickly led to a conviction: the Church needed preachers who could reach people’s hearts and minds with the truth, and these preachers needed to be well-formed.
Determined to combat the heresies, Dominic began preaching throughout the region. He embraced a life of poverty, traveling barefoot and relying on the charity of others, just as the Apostles had. His humility and knowledge drew others to his cause, and soon a small group of men joined him, committed to living simply and preaching the Gospel.
In 1216, Pope Honorius III recognized the importance of Dominic’s mission and officially established the Order of Preachers. The Dominicans, as they became known, spread quickly across Europe, establishing communities dedicated to study, prayer, and preaching.
In addition to founding one of the Church’s most influential orders, St. Dominic was also integral in spreading devotion to the Rosary. He knew that charity and clear teachings helped combat heresy. But, with Our Lady’s guidance, he also discovered that the Rosary, with its beautiful meditations on the real events of Christ’s life, was an immensely powerful weapon against sin and error of all kinds.
Just like St. Dominic, you’re going to want to take the Rosary with you on all your missions, big and small. This Miraculous Medal Tenner—with its sturdy design and handy carabiner clip—will be your faithful companion on all your journeys. Order yours today from The Catholic Company!
