Most of us know of Saint Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order. We celebrate his feast day on August 8.
But there is another Saint Dominic from whom he got his name. That saint’s name is Saint Dominic of Silos. He lived in the 11th Century and became known for his gifts of healing, among other things. People came from far and wide to beg his intercession.
Tradition tells us of a woman who had a dream before her son’s conception in which she saw a hound racing through the world igniting everything with a flaming torch. Troubled by this dream, she went to pray at the Benedictine abbey of San Domingo de Silos where Saint Dominic of Silos was buried. When her son was born, the parents named him Dominic, and he grew up to become Saint Dominic de Guzman, who founded the Dominican Order.
You can find his tomb in the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Bologna. This dream was indeed prophetic. Dominic did ignite the world with sacred truth through his preaching.
Saint Dominic de Silos is buried in the Abbey that he helped re-build: the famous monastery at Santo Domingo de Silos. You have no doubt heard the hauntingly beautiful CD of the monks performing the Benedictine Chant….they are from this monastery!
Let’s pray for the intercession of these two great saints.
