St. Dominic of Silos
St. Dominic of Silos
When They Lived:
St. Dominic of Silos lived from around 1000 AD to 1073 AD. His life spanned a crucial period in European history, the late 10th and early 11th centuries.
Where They Lived:
St. Dominic lived primarily in the Kingdom of León, which is now part of modern-day Spain. His primary connection is with the town of Silos, where he founded the famous Silos Monastery.
Notable World Events During Their Time:
- The Reconquista: This was a significant historical process during Dominic’s life. It involved the gradual Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim Moors. The battle for control of various territories in Spain was a defining event during this time.
- The Investiture Controversy: A major conflict between the Catholic Church and secular rulers over the appointment of church officials. This had significant political and religious implications throughout Europe, highlighting the power struggle between the papacy and various monarchs.
- The Norman Conquest of England: In 1066, William the Conqueror, a Norman noble, successfully invaded England, leading to the Battle of Hastings. This event reshaped the political and cultural landscape of England and had repercussions across Europe.
Patronage:
St. Dominic of Silos is the patron saint of several causes, including shepherds, pregnant women, prisoners, and the falsely accused. He is also invoked for protection against harmful insects, especially locusts, which were a significant concern for agricultural societies of his time.
Lover of Solitude and Prayer
St. Dominic of Silos was born around the year 1000 in Caas, Navarre, Spain, into a peasant family. As a young boy, he spent much of his time in the fields as a shepherd. This led him to love solitude, silence, and prayer. Later on, he entered the monastery of the Benedictines in Navarre, where he grew in holiness and stature. Years later, he was ordained to the priesthood.
A New Mission
As a priest, Dominic held various leadership positions. He was eventually elected abbot of the Order. However, he and the King of Navarre had a terrible dispute over the Order’s property. Dominic refused to hand over the monastery lands at the king’s demands. As a consequence, he and his two fellow monks were forced to leave the house. They fled to Old Castile and were welcomed by the king there.
In what at first seemed an unpromising location, Dominic and his companions entered the monastery of San Sebastian in Silos. The monastery was an almost dilapidated abbey with weak physical and spiritual administration. It only had six monks and was in terrible shape. Within a brief period of time, Dominic was elected abbot of the monastery. He renewed the spirit of the monastery. He rebuilt its structure, managed its finances, and augmented its works of charity. Under Dominic’s leadership, it became one of the most famous houses in Spain.
Another Saint Named After Him
Dominic died in 1073 in Silos, Spain. He was known for miracles of healing. It was said that there was no illness that could not be cured through his intercession. About 100 years after Dominic’s death, a young woman made a pilgrimage to his tomb. There, St. Dominic of Silos appeared to her and assured her that she would bear another son. The woman was Joan of Aza, and the son she bore grew up to be the “other” Dominic, Dominic de Guzman, the one who founded the Order of Preachers or the Dominicans. St. Dominic of Silos’ feast day is December 20.
Five Interesting Facts About St. Dominic of Silos
- St. Dominic of Silos is the patron saint of prisoners, pregnant women, and shepherds.
- St. Dominic of Silos was known for miracles of healing that he obtained through prayer. He was also known for his work in ransoming a group of 300 Christian prisoners from the Moors.
- The staff used by St. Dominic of Silos was used to bless the queens of Spain. It was also brought to the royal palace whenever a queen of Spain was in labor. This practice ended in 1931.
- Today, the monastery rebuilt by St. Dominic of Silos is an abbey of the Benedictine Congregation of Solesmes, housing a library of ancient and rare manuscripts. One of whose products was the magnificent Apocalypse, now found in the British Library.
- St. Dominic of Silos preserved the Mozarbic Rite, one of the variants of the Latin Rite, at his monastery. The monastery became one of the centers of the Mozarbic liturgy.
Prayer to St. Dominic of Silos
Heavenly Father, let me turn to You in good times and in bad. Grant that I may always remain in loving union with you, no matter what adversity or goodness should befall me. As St. Dominic de Silos lived his life, when he was exiled, he found another way to give You honor, and through this adversity, You filled his work with miracles. So, too, may it be in my life. Amen.
