Dominic de Guzman (Saint Dominic) was the founder of the Friars Preachers, popularly called the Dominicans or Order of Preachers, a Catholic religious order.

SAINT DOMINIC DE GUZMAN

Dominic de Guzman was born in north-central Spain. In about 1203 travelling to Denmark via the south of France he encountered the Cathars and found themselves in an atmosphere of heresy. On a second trip, in 1204 or 1205 Dominic stayed a number of years in the south of France working among the Cathars.

Dominic was granted written authority in December 1216 and January 1217 by the new pope, Honorius III for an order to be named "The Order of Preachers" ("Ordo Praedicatorum", or "O.P.," popularly known as the Dominican Order).

Throughout his life, Dominic is said to have zealously practiced rigorous self-denial. He abstained from meat and observed stated fasts and periods of silence. He selected the worst accommodations and the meanest clothes, and never allowed himself the luxury of a bed.

After WWII, Pope Pius XII, authorized the Dominicans of Bologna to investigate the relics of the Founder. Because the Provincial of Lombardy had not received permission to open the casket, the remains were examined by X-ray. Doctors and anthropologists were able to study the photographs and give an accurate description of the skeleton and physical characteristics of Saint Dominic. In 1946, Carlo Pini sculptured a marble bust according to anthropometric measurements of the skull.

1170

to 6 August 1221

Family Links

The marble bust by Carlo Pini (1946) was sculptured according to anthropometric measurements of the skull. This sculpture is preserved in the Saint Dominic's chapel in the San Domenico in Bologna

Dominican School in Manila, 50th Anniversary

#3147a and 3147b, 1 Feb 2008

part of a se-tenant block of 4