The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-08-21
A SCION OF A NOBLE FAMILY
One of the Brightest Luminaries
of the 18th Century.
PERFORMED MANY MIRACLES
Sons of St. Dominic UnriyaIed in
Thrilling Elcquence.

Dominic Il scion of the noble family
of Gusmans was born at Calahorrl, Old
Castle, Spain, in 1170. He studied at
Valencia and there completed his the
illogical course Such great progress
that in 1899 he became Il canon and was
afterwards prior at Osma, says writer
in the New Orleans Morning Star"
Before his birth his mother had a
vision that she carried In her womb
a young wolf bearing a torch in hi"
mouth, which, on coming into tic
world, should enlightcn the people with
the fire of charity. The result verified
acter, rs we'll as by the virtue and
preaching of his companions, he
wrought a wonderful change in Sonths
ern Europe. His genius and renarka-
bic virtue were conspicuously displayed
in confounding heresy. which. at that
time wrought great havoc in Toulouse
and Southern France.
The atrocities committed by the Alhis
gemses moved Dominic, as we'll as his
Bishop Diego, to devote his life to the
conversion of those fanatic and unfor.
tunate people. In this occupation he
spent seven years. Aside from his )er.
he welded in destroying the heresy
was prayer. devotion to the great Moth-
cr Of God, which, under Dominic's In
spiration, assumed the form OF the ros-
Dry 80 universal today in the church.
The Albigcnsian heresy was a fana-
tical sect which ignored nMitrimony and
committed the most indecent outrages.
Like other sects, who by their vagaries
separate themselves from the comm,ln.
ion of the church. they adopted tho
most absurd theological opinions, and
rushing from one error into another.
they became II menace to society as
well as to religion. by his great zeal
and Incompatible eloquence. Dominic
finally succeeded in crushing the he:esy.
BY the splendor of his life. his mex
haustiblo charity, his love for truth, he
brought those mistaken people to see
the error of their way, and the wick
etlness of their tcnets. He afterwards
In company with the Bishop OF Tou
louise. went 10 Rome to attend thS
Council Of I.aternn, and also for the
purpose of having his order approved
and confirmed by the Pope. At the
suggestion of the Pope, he returnd tc
his own country to consult his cOnferes
with regard to a rule of life. He mod
eled his rule somewhat after the con-
stitutions of ST. Augustine. Returning
to Rome, he bcsought Pope Honorius
the successor of Innocent ILL.,, to give
his appreciation to his order. Having
succeeded in gaining papal appreciation
he built two lnonasteries at Rome--ont
for men, the other for women st
Dominic, who thoroughly understood
human nature, well knew what a power
for good women are in the church and
in society.
That st. Dominic was a special favor
tic with the Almighty, and that his
mission had divine approval, was clear
ly established by his recalling TO life
three dead persons, and by the mary
other miracles which he wrought, and
in view of which his order propagated
in a miraculous manner. He chose
white habit for his followers to indicate
the purity Of the lives they were to lead.
After having built innumcrable monas.
teries, and seen them occupied by saint.
ly women and holy men. he was stlick.
en- down by Il severe attack of fever
and, knowing that his end was near
he summoned his brethren and disciples
to his bedside. and cXhorted- them tc
lead innocent and blameless lives. BY
way of Inheritance, he bequeathed te
them tho great virtues of charity, hu.
mility and poverty. These three vir.
tues were to be the foundation on which
the great Dominican order was to be
raised. Eliminate pride, covetousnese
and jealousy from the world, and our
habitation ON earth would be some,
thing like paradise. AS his sorrowine
brethren were reciting the prayers for
the dying, while reciting the words
"Sulvenite Sanuti Del, occurrite angell,'
he calmly expired August s, 1921:
Gregory the Ninth numbered him
among the saints. Thus died Dominic
one Of the brightest ornaments that
ever shed luster on waywaru world;
but, though he died, his works livs
after him In his spiritual children. It
is said that "the evil men do live after
them and the good is oft inferred with
their bones" However true this may
be 1t cannot be applied in the case o,
st. Dominic, for his whole life waa