St. Dominic of Silos – December 20th
Dominic was a Spanish shepherd boy. In the many hours he spent alone with his sheep at the bottom of the Pyrenees Mountains, he learned to love prayer. Soon he became a monk and a very good one. Dominic was elected prior of his monastery and brought about many changes for the better. One day, however, King Garcia III of Navarre claimed that some of the monastery’s possessions were his. St. Dominic refused to give them to the King, for he did not think it was right to give the King what belonged to the Church.
This decision greatly angered the King and he ordered the Saint to leave his kingdom. Dominic and his monks were given a friendly welcome by another King, Ferdinand I of Castile. Ferdinand told them they could have an old monastery called St. Sebastian at Silos. This monastery was located in a lonely spot and was very run-down. But with Dominic as the abbot, it soon began to take on a new look. In fact, he made it one of the best known monasteries in all Spain.
St. Dominic worked many miracles to cure all kinds of sicknesses.
Many years after his death, Dominic appeared to a wife and mother, Blessed Joan of Aza. He told her that God would send her another son. When that son was born, Joan gratefully named him Dominic. And this son became the great St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order.
What can I do to help the Church? Even small offerings and service are of great help in the divine work of saving souls.