Dominic was born in Castile, Spain, in 1170. He was a member of the Guzman family and his mother is Blessed Joan of Aza. When Dominic was seven, he began to go to school. His uncle, a priest, directed his education. After years of study, he became a priest too. Dominic lived a quiet life of prayer and obedience with other holy priests. God had amazing plans for Dominic. He was meant to begin a new religious order. It would be called the Order of Preachers or Dominicans, named after Saint Dominic.

The Dominicans preached the faith. They helped correct false teachings that were called heresies. It all began when Dominic was on a trip through southern France. He realized that these heresies were doing great harm to the church. Saint Dominic felt such pity for the people who had believed these ideas. He wanted to help them. The Dominicans conquered the dangerous heresies with prayer, especially the Holy Rosary. Dominic also encouraged the people to be humble and to make sacrifices. Once someone asked Saint Dominic what book he used to prepare his wonderful sermons. “The only book I use is the book of love,” he said. He always prayed to be filled with true love of neighbor. Dominic made many sacrifices and never complained when things didn't go according to his plans.He urged the Dominicans to be devoted to the study of the Bible and to prayer. No one did more than Saint Dominic and his preachers to spread the beautiful practice of saying the Rosary.

Saint Dominic was a brilliant preacher and Saint Francis of Assisi, his friend, was a humble beggar. They were close friends. Their two orders of Dominicans and Franciscans helped Christians become holier. Dominic’s friars (the members of his order were called friars) opened centers in Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Rome and Bologna in Italy. He lived to see his order spread to Poland, Scandinavia and Palestine. The friars also went to Canterbury in London, and Oxford in England. Dominic died in Bologna on August 7, 1221. At that time, Cardinal Ugolino of Venice was made Pope and took the name Gregory IX. He proclaimed Dominic a saint in the year 1234.

We can ask Saint Dominic to help us grow in our love for our Catholic faith. We can also ask him to teach us how to be more devoted to the Rosary as he was.