It was not until his 25th year that Dominic was
called to the ecclesiastical state. Until that time the designs of God
regarding him had not been clearly manifested; but some important changes which
took place in the diocese of Osma were the means of bringing him into a
position where the latent powers of his soul were displayed before the eyes of
the world. Martin de Bazan at that time ruled the Church of Osma; a man of
eminent holiness, and most zealous for the restoration of Church discipline.
Following the plan then generally adopted in most of the countries of Europe,
he had engaged in the difficult but important task of converting the canons of
his cathedral into canons regular, an arrangement by which they became subject
to stricter ecclesiastical discipline and community-life. In this labour he had
been greatly assisted by a man whose name will ever have a peculiar interest to
all the children of S. Dominic,—Don Diego de Azevedo, the first prior of the
new community, and afterwards successor to Martin in the episcopal see. The
name of Dominic, and the reputation of his singular holiness no less than of
his learning, had already reached the ears of both; and they determined, if possible,
to secure him as a member of the chapter, not doubting but the influence of his
example and doctrine would greatly assist their designs of reform. In his 25th
year, therefore, he received the habit of the Canons Regular, and the influence
of his character was so soon felt and appreciated by, his brethren, that he was
shortly afterwards chosen sub-prior, in spite of his being the youngest of the
whole body of canons.
Nine years- were thus spent at Osma, during which
time God was doubtless gradually training and preparing his soul for the great
work of his future life. Jordan of Saxony has left us a beautiful sketch of his
manner of life at this period. "Now it
was," he says, "that he began
to appear among his brethren like a -bright burning torch, the first in
holiness, the last in humility, spreading about him an odour of life which gave
life, and a perfume like the sweetness of summer days. Day and night he was in
the church, praying as it were without ceasing. God gave him the grace to weep
for sinners and for the afflicted; he bore their sorrows in an inner sanctuary
of holy compassion, and so this loving compassion which pressed on his heart
flowed out and escaped in tears. It was his custom to spend the night in
prayer, and to speak to God with his door shut. But often there might be heard
the voice of his groans and sighs, which burst from him against his will. His
one constant petition to God was for the gift of a true charity; for he was
persuaded that he could not be truly a member of Christ unless he consecrated
himself wholly to 'the work of gaining souls, following the example of Him who
sacrificed himself without reserve for our redemption."
It is interesting, among the very scanty details
left us of Dominic's early years, to find two books mentioned, the study of
which seems to have had an extraordinary influence in forming and directing his
mind. The one was, the "Dialogues of
Cassian;" and the other, the "Epistles of St.
Paul." In after-years he always carried a copy of the Epistles about
his person, and he seems to have shaped his whole idea of an apostolic life
after the model of this great master. In 1201, Don Diego de Azevedo succeeded
to the bishopric of Osma, and two years afterwards was appointed by Alfonso
VIII., the king of Castile, to negotiate a marriage between his eldest son and
a princess of Denmark. He accordingly set out for the north, taking Dominic as
his companion; and it was on the occasion of this journey that, as they passed
through the south of France, the frightful character and extent of the
Albigensian heresy, which then infected the whole of the southern provinces,
first came under their notice. Though they were not then able to commence the
apostolic labours for which they saw there was so urgent a demand, yet an
impression was left on the hearts of both which was never effaced; and Dominic
felt that his life, which had hitherto seemed without any determinate call or
destiny, had been, as it were, reserved for a work which he now saw clear
before him. Probably this feeling was strengthened by a circumstance which
occurred at Toulouse, where they stopped for a night on their journey. The house
where they lodged was kept by a man who belonged to the sect of the Albigenses,
and when Dominic became aware of the fact, he resolved to attempt at least to
gain this one soul back to the faith. The time was short, but the dispute was
prolonged during the whole night; and in the morning the eloquence and fervour
of his unknown guest had conquered the obduracy of the heretic; before they
left the house he made his submission, and was received back into the bosom of
the Church. The effect of this first conquest on Dominic's mind was a feeling
of unspeakable gratitude, and a determination, so soon as he should be free to
act, to found an order for the express purpose of preaching the faith.
Castiglio, in his history of the Order, tells us that the embassy on which
Diego and Dominic were employed was not to Denmark, but to the court of France,
and that it was on this occasion that, finding Queen Blanche in much affliction
on account of her being without children, Dominic recommended to her the use of
the Rosary. The Queen, he adds, not only adopted the devotion herself, but
propagated it among her people, and distributed Rosaries amongst them, engaging
them to join their prayers to hers, that her desire might be granted; and the
son whom God gave in answer to those prayers was no other than the great S.
Louis. This is the first direct mention of the devotion of the Rosary which we
find in S. Dominic's life; it is probable, from the date of S. Louis' birth,
which is generally given in 1215, that the circumstances referred to, if they
ever really took place, occurred at some later visit to the French court. But
though there is evidently some confusion in the time, we do not like,
altogether to abandon the story as without foundation; for there is always a
peculiar charm in the little links which unite the lives of two great saints
together, and those who claim any interest in the order of S. Dominic may feel
a pleasure in thinking of S. Louis as a child of the Rosary.
Source:
Alemany, Most Reverend J. S., D. D. Life of St.
Dominic and a Sketch of the Dominican Order. New York: P.
O'Shea Publisher, 1867
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