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The Dominican Order

Origin and Purpose

The Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum),
emerged to provide theological expertise, especially to those curés lacking sufficient
education in sacred texts. They were founded by Dominic of Guzman, who was later
canonized as Saint Dominic.

Dominic of Guzman: The Founder

Dominic Guzman was born in Castille, Spain, to a wealthy land-owning family.
Initially, he was not intended for religious life, but he eventually pursued theological
studies and became a priest.

1196: Enters the clergy.

1170 - 1221: Life of Dominic.
1215: Moves to Toulouse, a city known for its university that primarily trained
theologians.

Theology is the main discipline taught at universities during this time.

Professors are religious figures who teach students to understand and
interpret religious texts in Latin and Greek.

Dominic aimed to recruit theologians who would travel and assist priests with
interpreting sacred texts. In 1215, he established the Order of Preachers in Toulouse.

Papal Recognition
The Catholic Church recognized the Dominican Order for their valuable
contributions.

1216: The order is officially recognized by the Pope, acknowledging their

usefulness to the Christian community.

Expansion and Activities

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Starting in 1217, Dominican preachers traveled from Toulouse to other university

cities to deliver religious conferences and address theological questions from the
public. These cities included:

Bologna
Paris
Oxford
Various cities in Germany

These conferences provided a form of public engagement and intellectual discourse,

especially considering the limited entertainment options during the medieval period
besides religious festivals or public executions.

Organizational Structure
Dominic established monasteries and convents, particularly in:

France
Italy
Spain

These establishments were primarily located in cities and served as bases for the
traveling preachers and residences for older members of the order. These Dominican
houses functioned as temporary residences for the preaching friars and sisters as
they traveled between cities.

Legacy and Canonization

By the end of his life, Dominic had founded approximately twenty monasteries and
four convents for Dominican nuns. He died on August 6, 1221, in Bologna, Italy, due
to a prolonged illness.

July 3, 1234: Dominic was canonized as a saint by Pope Gregory IX.

August 4: Saint Dominic's feast day was established.

Saint Elevation and Calendar Placement

When the Pope decides someone has done extraordinary work for Christianity, they
can be made a saint. For example, Saint Dominique was declared a saint on July 3,
1234.

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Choosing a Date for Celebration

Normally, a saint's feast day is the day of their death, as it signifies their ascent to
paradise. However, Saint Dominique died on August 6th, but his feast day is
celebrated on August 4th.

The Calendar Problem

In the 13th century (1221), the Catholic Church had already declared many saints,
and the calendar was filling up. August 6th was already occupied by another saint, so
August 4th, a free day, was chosen for Saint Dominique's feast day.

Today, the Christian calendar is full, and multiple saints are often celebrated on the
same day. The saint with the earliest claim to the date gets it, and later saints are
added to the same day.

Dominican Mission: Preaching and Education

The primary mission of the Dominicans (also known as the Friars Preachers) is
preaching. They explain stories from the Bible and the lives of saints, answering
complex questions that the common people might have. Dominicans are highly
educated, specializing in interpreting and discussing sacred texts.

Engaging the Audience

Dominicans understand the importance of engaging their audience, incorporating
amusing and moralizing anecdotes into their sermons. The best preachers even wrote
books to help their colleagues keep the audience entertained while remaining moral.

Anecdote: The Rich Merchant and the Hermit

A rich, overweight merchant visits a thin, impoverished hermit living in a cave outside
the city. The merchant comments on the hermit's thinness, to which the hermit
replies that when he arrives at the gates of paradise, his thinness will allow him to
slip through even if Saint Peter tries to block him, while the merchant, being large,
will not be able to enter.

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The moral of the story is that one should not overindulge in the pleasures of life and
should think about their soul. Overeating and overdrinking are sins of the flesh.

Public Spectacles and Open-Air Sermons

Dominican conferences were often held in public squares or in front of churches
because churches were often not big enough to hold the large crowds. Heralds
would announce the speaker's arrival, drawing large crowds. These sermons were a
form of public spectacle, especially since opportunities for amusement were limited
to religious events and public executions at the time.

Religious Conference Attendees

Religious conferences attracted diverse audiences, including those seeking engaging
religious narratives. Attendees often found the speakers more captivating than their
local priests, leading to repeat attendance. These conferences relied on collections,
where attendees contributed financially to support the preaching brethren.

The Daily Lives of Preaching Brethren

When not delivering conferences, the brethren dedicated themselves to:

Studying sacred texts

Writing new lectures
Engaging in prayer and meditation

Monasteries as Urban Retreats

Monasteries functioned as urban houses offering lodging, food, and refuge for
traveling brethren before and after conferences.

These were not traditional monasteries with agricultural land or income.

Instead, they relied on donations from conference attendees to sustain their activities.

Permitted Possessions
While the order generally discouraged personal possessions, brethren were allowed
to own:

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Houses in town for the community

Theological works and books for preparing lectures

Monasteries as Centers of Learning

Monasteries also served as libraries where traveling Dominicans could access books
for study and education.

Impact on Parishioners
The conferences aided parishioners in better understanding religious texts.

The Rise of the Franciscans

Franciscans addressed the needs of individuals often overlooked by the Church.

They are also known as the Friars Minor.

The Founder
François Bernadone, later known as Saint Francis of Assisi, founded the Order of
Friars Minor in 1182.

Early Life and Transformation

Born into a wealthy merchant family in Assisi, Tuscany, Francis was not initially
destined for a religious life.

A Turning Point
A severe illness led to a profound change in Francis's life. After recovering from what
was thought to be a fatal illness, he believed it was God's will for him to live.

Embracing Poverty and Service

Francis renounced his family's wealth, distributed it to the poor, and chose to live like
Christ among the impoverished.

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Retreat to the Countryside

He moved into a shepherd's hut outside Assisi, emulating the life of Christ and the
apostles.

Serving the Marginalized

Francis dedicated himself to caring for lepers, who were ostracized from society due
to fears of contagion.

Understanding Leprosy
At the time, transmission of leprosy was poorly understood, leading to widespread
fear.

It was mistakenly believed that mere physical contact could spread the
disease.

Reality
Leprosy transmission requires direct blood contact or sexual contact with an infected
person.

Social Ostracization of Lepers

Lepers were often forced to live on the fringes of society, relying on charity and facing
hostility.

Travel Protocol
They traveled in groups, announcing their presence with bells to warn others of their
approach.

Leprosy
Leprosy is a disease that causes skin and bone problems.

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Symptoms:

Skin issues
Bone issues
Pustules
Muscle problems (e.g., facial paralysis)
Loss of limbs, fingers, etc., due to gangrene
Fossilized nails
Vision loss

It's a slow-progressing disease that can take decades to develop. Today, it is

treatable, but it was not treatable in the past. People with leprosy were often
ostracized due to disfigurement.

The Story of St. Francis of Assisi

People thought that individuals who were disfigured by leprosy were evil and being
punished for their sins. St. Francis of Assisi decided to welcome those rejected by
society, specifically those with leprosy. He offered them shelter and care, despite the
fear of contracting the disease.

People thought he was crazy and would catch leprosy himself. When he didn't,
people believed he was protected by God. People thought he was a saint because he
cared for those with leprosy without getting sick himself.

Over time, more and more people came to visit St. Francis. People were interested in
him because:

He was intelligent
He was kind

Eventually, some of his friends began to help him, and others who got to know him
joined in as well. He created a small community and others built small cabins near
his. Religious individuals and regular civilians joined him in his work. They built a
small chapel outside the city of Assisi, which is now a large monastery.

St. Francis and his companions called themselves the "frères mineurs," meaning
"lesser brothers" or "humble brothers." They lived with very little, relying on the
charity of others. Their work involved:

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Caring for those rejected by society

Caring for those who had lost their families
Caring for the old and sick

"frères mineurs" translates to "lesser brothers" or "humble brothers."

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