ST. DOMINIC, CONFESSOR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 31 July 1902, Page 7

ST. DOMINIC, CONFESSOR.

St. Dominic, who was born at Calahorra, in Old Oastile, was distinguished in his early youth by piety and love of study. Having been ordained a priest, he went, in company with his bishop, to the south of France, where he witnessed the atrocities committed by the Albigenses. The sight of so many ruined souls moved him to devote his life to their conversion. It was then that our saint propagated the use of the holy Rosary, which waß revealed to him in a vision by the Blessed Virgin. After spending 10 years in this toilsome mission, St. Dominic, in 1215, founded a new Order, the chief object of which was to furnish to the Church zealous preachers and missionaries for the instruction of the Faithful and the conversion of the heretics. He selected the Rule of St. Augustine for the use of his Order, adding certain statutes, which were borrowed chiefly from those of the Premonstratensians. The habit which he gave to his religious consisted of a white tunio and scapular, with long black mantle, from which latter robe robe waß derived their name, ' Black Friare. 1 Pope Honorius 111., in 1216, approved of the new Society under the title of ' Preaching Friars.' The same Pontiff appointed Dominic ' Master of the Sacred Palace,' which office is to this day held by a member of the Order. Also St. Dominic founded an Order for women, to whom he gave the rule of the Friars, and a Tertiary Order for people living in the world. The Order of St. Dominio has contributed to the Church, besides countless saints, three Popes, 60 cardinals, about 150 archbishops, and upwards of 800 bishops.