The Life of St. Dominic

Description

The best biography of St. Dominic in English we have seen. Covers his preaching, miracles, founding of the Dominicans, the Rosary, the incredible fruit of his life, and the miraculous growth of the Dominicans. 256 pgs,

The only downside of this biography is that Sr. Drane doesn't delve at all into the doctrinal details of Albigensianism and how the Dominicans refuted it.

From ch. 4 ¶15 (ref:10.15):

It will be observed that we have made no attempt in these pages to give any account of the nature of that celebrated heresy, the name of which will be forever inseparably united with that of St. Dominic; neither is it our intention to do so. An ample account of its doctrines may be gathered from so many works within the reach of the Catholic reader, that we feel it is wholly unnecessary to devote any space here to the task of unveiling its true character.

ch. 9 ¶12 (ref:15.12) mentions how the Great Western Schism divided the order

ch. 14 (ref:20.1) is how St. Dominic reformed an abbess, enclosed the women at Sisto Vecchio, and brought them into the Order

ch. 25 ¶16 (ref:31.16) mentions the Dominican's system of granting degrees

ch. 27 on St. Dominic's writings (ref:33.8, 34.33):

According to creditable opinion, St. Dominic professed in very express terms his belief in the Immaculate Conception. It is even said that he committed it to writing in a certain book, which the heretics required him to cast into the flames, &c … It contained (it is said) in the following terms the precious text of the Acts of the Martyrdom of St. Andrew: “Even as the first Adam was made of virgin earth, which had never been cursed, so also was it fitting for the second Adam to be made in like manner.”

—Monseigneur Parisis, Démonstration de l’Immaculée Conception de la B. Vierge Marie, Mère de Dieu p. 46n1

CONTENTS.

Chapter I.
Childhood and University life
II. The Subprior of Osma 12
III. The Albigenses
IV. Beginning of the Apostolate
V. Prouille
VI. Murder of the Legate 61
VII. The Crusade 73
VIII. St. Dominic, the Apostle of Languedoc 87
IX. St. Dominic, the Inquisitor 106
X. St. Dominic and the Holy Rosary 120
XI. Muret
XII. Foundation of the Order 140
XIII. Confirmation of the Order l62
XIV. Dispersion of the Brethren
XV. Return to Rome 187
XVI. St. Sixtus
XVII. Santa Sabina
XVIII. Blessed Reginald of Orleans 247
XIX. Portrait of St. Dominic 254
XX. Journey to Spain
XXI. St. Dominic in Spain 28l
XXII. From Spain to Paris 299
XXIII. Paris University 315
XXIV. From Paris to Bologna 334
XXV. Reginald in Bologna 341
XXVI. Reginald in Paris 356
XXVII. St. Dominic in Bologna 364
XXVIII. St. Dominic's fifth visit to Rome 379
XXIX. First General Chapter 390
XXX. Foundations in Italy 407
XXXI. Last visit to Rome, and Second General Chapter 425
XXXII. The Dominicans in England 441
XXXIII. Veni dilecte 454
XXXIV. Canonization of St. Dominic 468

Portrait of St. Dominic (from the print by Galle). Frontispiece.
Baptism of St. Dominic x
St. Dominic disputing with the heretics (from a fresco by Simon Memmi) To face 41
The Miracle of Fanjeaux, from the Ark of St. Dominic To face 46
The Nuns of Prouille 49
West door of the Church of St. Gilles 73
Carcassonne 87
St. Dominic at Muret 138
Crucifix of St. Dominic To face 146
Vision of the holy Apostles163
Confirmation of the Rule 172
Dispersion of the brethren 176
Tombstone of Simon de Montfort 186
Chapter House, St. Sixtus 199
Santa Sabina from the river 224
St. Dominic led by the Angel 246
St. Dominic meditating on the Gospels (Fra Angelico) 254
The Alcazar of Segovia 281
The Convent of Calaroga To face 296
Rocamadour 299
Bell at Rocamadour 305
Cloisters of San Domenico, Bologna 341
Entrance to Santa Sabina 379
Piazza of San Domenico, Bologna 390
Church of San Domenico, Siena 407
St. Peter Martyr (Fra Angelico) 425
Seal of St. Dominic 427
Preaching Yard, Hereford 441
Seal of the Convent of Norwich 447
Scala Coeli 454
The Ark of St. Dominic To face 471
The Chasuble of St. Dominic To face 473
The woodcuts marked* are from frescoes by Pere Besson.