The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-08-08
81. ponin,e-Ath q August. 4

The twelfth century n .tEa cssiIstIsh era
Of Its course was wissly lstent fssm itssbe-
inTPh e eesorm u ne churei was ths sss2t OBJ
iect Ant occfipiest mi -rainas. I'm the space
ef ffty,si12 years. tiiere we're held three
might have boon 4 saint, proved himself q
mere disturber OF the peace He yielded to q
Temptation which at all times hiss ruined many
men ntsii gSnesSn sh w s' M not think i'
All the strength of the Waldensce was in
the real or apparent contrast with the Ill
regulated lives Of some o. the clergy OF their
heresy of oriental origin had glided into Ger
many and Italy, and had pitched its head
quarters in the sonth of France. Its followers
were really Manicheans, but were commonly
called AIbigenses- Raymond w., Count of
Toulouse, renounced the inheritance of glory
and virtue transmitted to him by his ancestors
to become chief of that detessable heresy.
This was not all. The instruction of the Ca
tholic schools, which had revived after long
interval, began to develop itself under the in
fiuence of the Aristotelian philosophy, and the
tendency of this movement was to make reason
prevail over faith in the exposition of the
Christian dogma. In word, schIsm and
heresy, favored by the bad state of eccieslas-
teal discipline and by the revival of pagan
SCIENCE shook the foundations of the work of
| Christ in the West, while the bad issue of the
Crusades threatened to achieve its ruin in the
East whore it opened TO tho bar 8
portals of Christendom. The Popes, it is true,
| resisted with incredible strength of mind the
| imminent danger of those times. They check
ed the Emperor Frederick l., they encouraged
| the nations to undertake new crusades, held
] their councils against error, watched over the
purity of the doct1ne OF sne sono9is anu I1n
| opinion of Europe. But man, however
| great, can bear alone the weight of divine and
human things at once many things must con-
cur to help and sustain him. This time, Divine
Providence, to save the Church, took the direct
route of mercy by giving to the world st.
| In a valley of Old CASTLE, which is watered
by the Duero, between Amanda and Osma,
there is small village of the name of Gala
roga. There st. Dominic was born in the year
Johanna do Aza. 1t is related that the mother
saw in her dream the fruit of her womb in the
shape OF q dog, holding in his month q flaming
torch, with which he set the world fire.
| When seven years old he left his fathers home,
| and went to Gumiel de Ian, where he lived
/ with an uncle, who was the arch-priest of the
church Of that place There ere he d learned arr the
/ years he repaired to the University of Paien-
cha, in the kingdom of Leon, remaining there
for ten years Two traits OF his sohooi-hfe
famine which desolated Spain, Dominic, not
satisfied with giving TO the poor whatever he
had, even all bis spare clothes, sold his books
and distributed the price, and when others
were astonished ut his thus depriving himself
of the means of study, he calmly answered
Could be porting over dead parchment whils
ample encouraged both the professors and stu
dents Of tho university to contribute album
dainty 70 tho aid Of the needy. On another
4 captive among the Moors weeping bitterly, be
cause she was unable 90 pay his ransom, h'
offered himself for the redemption of her bro
spirftnsl redemption o. SO many, would no
| permit IL. M
Dominic was twenty 1--we years old whom fl1s
Bishop Of osma; Martin de 6ssen, wanted Z
regular canon, and . man Of great holiness
accomplished this design, and succeeded IL
persnading st. Dominic to enter the society O
the same regular canons where during nine
4 years he prepared himself for the yet unknown
mission he was called to fulfil.
At that time Alphonsus VIII, King of CASTLE
mark. As ambassador to this. effect, heHchos,
Don Diego, who in the meantime had becona,
Bishop of osma. Taking Dominic with him
to wards the end of 1908, he departed for North
ern Germany. Passing through Languedo,
they witnessed the alarming progress of tn
Albigenses, and their hearts sore1y
afflicted When, after many hardships thel
had reached their place of destination, theS
found the court of Denmark disposed to com
ply with the wishes of CASTLE. They imme
diately returned to carry the happy tidings t.
King Alphonsus, and again set out for Den
mark to conduct the princess to Spain. Blu
she had died in the meantime, and Don Diego
disengaged of his mission, sent q special cou
rier to the king and went with Dominic t.
Rome. ~
At those times no Christian died conteni
without having kissed the tomb of the holy
ii Apostles St. Peter and st. Paul. Even til,
poor from countries far AWAY set oat ON foot t.
Fenefate their holy relics.
Don Diego and Dominic knelt together Al
that tomp which governed the world and OF
lifting up their heads from the sanctifed dust
they enjoyed another happiness, the greatest
q Christian can experience here below, which
. is to see on the pOntifcal throne a man worthy
TO occupy tit was Innocent Ill
The Bishop of Osma had resolved to renounct
his Office in order to 60 and preach the gospel
to the barbarians But Innocent Ill would
not approve his desire; aud the two pilgrims
left the Holy City in thespxiny OF ff-5soS1:-<1r
their way they wished to visit one of the mos
celebrated monasteries of Christendom. TAX
ing circuitous ronte, they went to knock al
the door of the Abbey of Citeaux where tho
spirit of the great St. Bernard was still reign
ing. On entering the suburbs of Montpeiiel
they met three men who played great part il
the affairs of the Church at that period. Theil
names Sgere Arnold, Abbot of Citeaux, Raou
and Peter Of Castelnan, monks of tho SAM
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