Celestron NexStar 6 SE Telescope Feasst of St. Dominic, August 8

 Patron of Astronomers; astronomy; Dominican Republic; falsely accused people; Santo Domingo Pueblo, Valletta, Birgu (Malta), Managua

Memorial:  8 August - Born 1170 - Died: 6 August 1221
Canonized: 13 July 1234 by Pope Gregory IX
St. Dominic was born of wealthy Spanish nobility, the son of Blessed Joan of Aza and Felix Guzman.  When she was pregnant with him, his mother had a vision that her unborn child was a dog who would set the world on fire with the Word of God, symbolized by a torch it carried in its mouth.  A dog with a torch in its mouth became a symbol for the order which he founded, the Dominicans. At Dominic's baptism, Blessed Joan saw a star shining from his chest, which became another of his symbols in art, and led to his patronage of astronomy.

• Student of Philosophy and Theology; University of Palencia.
• Catholic Priest
• Canon of the Cathedral of Osma
• Member of the Augustinian Order
• Clerical reformist with lifelong apostolate among heretics
• Friend and contemporary of Blessed Peter of Castelnau
• Founder of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in 1215, a group who live a simple, austere life, and an order of nuns dedicated to the care of young girls

A t one point Dominic became discouraged at the progress of his mission.  No matter how much he worked, heresies remained.  But he received a vision from Our Lady who showed him a wreath of roses, representing the rosary. She instructed him to say the rosary daily, teach it to all who would listen, and eventually the true Faith would win out. Dominic is often associated with the introduction of the rosary.  It actually pre-dates him, but he certainly promoted its devotion, and he used it to strengthen his own spiritual life.
Legend says that Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the Faith.  Dominic met the beggar the next day.  He embraced him and said, "You are my companion and must walk with me.  If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us."  The beggar was Saint Francis of Assisi.