December 20
Saints of the Day...and Events
 

St. Dominic of Silos, 1000-1073, Domingo of Silos
The Benedictine Abbot of the monastery of Silos in Burgos, reformer and miracle worker, one of the most beloved of Spanish saints, predecessor of the "other Dominic", the founder of the Dominicans.

    It’s not the founder of the Dominicans we honor today, but there’s a poignant story that connects one Dominic with the other.

    About 100 years after Dominic’s death, a young woman made a pilgrimage to his tomb. There 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—the one who founded the Dominicans.

     Saint Dominic was given the surname of Silos because of his long sojourn in the monastery of that name. Born to a peasant family, he worked as a shepherd in his youth. Benedictine monk at San Millán de Cogolla monastery. Priest. Novice master. Prior of the house. Ordered by King Garcia III of Navarre to give him the monastery's lands, Dominic refused, and with two of his brother monks was driven from the house by force.

    They sought protection from King Ferdinand I of Old Castile. They found a new home in the San Sebastian monastery at Silos, diocese of Burgos where Dominic was appointed abbot. Founded in 954, the house had fallen on hard times, had only six monks, and was in terrible shape physically, financially and spiritually. He turned around the house's spiritual life, straightened out its finances, rebuilt its structure. The house was soon a spiritual center noted for book design, printed art, its gold and silver work, and charity to the local poor. The rebuilt abbey cloisters survive to today, and are considered a great architectural treasure. Reported to heal by prayer. He got wealthy patrons to endow the monastery, and raised funds to ransom Christians taken prisoner by the Moors.

    The charity of the Saint was not concentrated only in his monastery, but was extended to all who suffered afflictions. His gift of miracles drew to the convent the blind, the sick, and the lame; and it was by the hundreds that he cured them, as is still evident today from the ex-votos of the chapel where his relics are conserved. The balls-and-chains, iron handcuffs and the like, which are seen suspended from the vault there, attest also to his special charity for the poor Christians held captive by the Spanish Moors. He often went to console them and pay their ransom, thus precluding the works of the Order of Our Lady of Ransom, founded in 1218, 145 years after his death.

    One of the most beloved of Spanish saints, there were churches and monasteries dedicated to him as early as 1085, and the monastery he rebuilt is now known as Saint Dominic's. Many miracles were attributed to him prayers after his death.

Born 1000 in Cañas (modern Rioja), Navarre, Spain

Died 10 December 1073 in Silos, Burgos, of natural causes; on 5 January 1076 his body was translated to the monastery church for veneration

Additional Information
        http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintd54.htm
        http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1885
        http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/12-20.htm

Catholic Online
Daughters of Saint Paul
One Year Book of Saints, by Father Clifford Stevens
An Outing to San Domingo de Silos
New Catholic Dictionary
 

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