Bologna, Italy: Basilica of Saint Dominic (Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca)
About Saint Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221):
One of the greatest preachers of his time, he founded the Dominican Order. He worked tirelessly to evangelize to those who had been mislead by the Albigensian heresy that was flourishing in France in the 13th Century. The heresy wrongly taught that all material things, including the human body itself, were fundamentally evil, just the opposite of what the Christian faith teaches.
He was such a great preacher that few could argue against him, and he helped bring many back into the Church.
We celebrate his Feast Day on August 8.
About the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca:
The Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca is where you will find Saint Dominic’s body in a sarcophagus. This sarcophagus is in itself a majestic work of art that tells the story of the work and the miracles of Saint Dominic in sculpture.
Note that his head is preserved separately in the Basilica, no doubt due to the reputation he had as one of the best preachers ever known.
This Church dominates the town and also houses an icon attributed to Saint Luke.
There is also another Saint Dominic…..Saint Dominic de Silos.
And one more….Saint Dominic Savio, a young student of Saint John Bosco, who is buried in the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin.
Traveling to the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca:
Address: Via di S. Luca 36
Tel: +39 051 6142339
Click here for the local tourist website describing the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca
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