St. Dominic: A Man of Unrepeatable Identity

            At the end of the twelfth century the French Church was ravaged by the Albigensian heresy which bought about the moral degradation in the society. Where others had failed, Dominic de Guzman, a man notable for his learning and love of poverty, succeeded. He was born in 1171 in Caleruega, Spain to a noble family. Dominic was educated in the schools of Palencia and became a Canon Regular in the canonry of Osma. When he encountered the growth of the Albigensian heresy, he gathered around him a group of men to preach against it, which would later become the world-renowned Order of Preachers. He obtained the confirmation of his Order in 1216 from Pope Honorius III. He died on 6 August 1221.

            Dominic's place in the history is unique and outstanding, because he rose above his society creating an unrepeatable identity almost in every field he venture into. He gathered around him a group of men, founding a new Order for the sake of preaching the Gospel which was then the right of bishops alone. He combined the active life with contemplative life creating a new way of approaching the religious life. For the first time in the Church history he replaced manual work, which was the trademark of every religious community, with study. He fought against the heresy not by sword, but by his words and deeds which were sharper than the double edged sword. It is recorded that he could convert about a lakh people to Catholicism in Lombardy alone. He swam against the tide by introducing a democratic form of government which was totally alien to the aristocratic hierarchical Christendom of his time. It is said that the Constitutions he handed down to the Order is the best model for any democratic system. He also introduced a centralised form of government into the Order which is now followed by most of the religious institutions. His administrative vision was so bright that, unlike other mediaeval Orders like Franciscans and Carmelites, the Dominican Order was never split. And also, when he founded the Order, instead of keeping his brethren together, he immediately dispersed them sending them two by two to various universities across Europe which would seem to be the end of this newly established Order. As a manifestation of his deep vision, however, it grew rapidly in all these cities becoming an influential Order in the Christendom even when the saint was alive. The Order continues to exist around the globe carrying the legacy of the saint.

            The life of St. Dominic is an inspiration to the people of all ages, because he was a man of  not only his own age but the ages followed because he left behind him an incredible legacy. His identity is unrepeatable and therefore will remain forever.