Dominic came from Caleruega, Spain. After many years of study, he was ordained a priest. On a journey with his bishop through the south of France, he encountered the Albigensians or Cathars. They proclaimed a distorted form of Christianity, saying among other things, that matter like the body is of evil origin. Suicide by starvation, for example, was not considered problematic. Dominic saw the impotence of the Church to respond, for the Cathar leaders were more heroic in the dedication to their misled convictions than the Catholic missionaries to the truth of the gospel. Together with some Cistercian monks he started to patiently explain the faith, while themselves living a convincing life as followers of Jesus in holiness, humility and simplicity. After ten years, he founded a house in Toulouse, which was the beginning of the Order of Preachers (o.p.) or Dominicans. Their ideal was to live very close to God through study and prayer, while preaching the word of God in a way that people could understand. Some Dominicans were severely misled themselves when they played an important role in the horrors of the inquisition. In spite of this dark period of the Order, also today Dominicans try to live in the spirit of Saint Dominic while sharing the love of Jesus with everyone who wants to listen. #SaintDominic #catholicsaint #onlinesaints
