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The fifteenth century was the age of exploration, and the Dominicans became active missionaries to the newly discovered lands. An important advocate of Christopher Columbus’ great venture of 1492 was Bishop Diego de Deza, the Dominican bishop of Palencia, whose own goal was to establish missions along Columbus’ proposed route. Diego persuaded local Dominicans to Read more…

At sixteen, Antoninus (1389 – 1459) joined the Dominican Order and for the next forty years served as local or provincial superior in various Italian priories. He founded the convent of San Marco under the patronage of Cosimo de Medici and also under the sodality of St. Martin. In 1446 Antoninus was appointed archbishop of Read more…

Born in the province of Valencia, Spain, Vincent Ferrer (1350 – 1419) joined the Dominican friars in 1367. In Spain, France, and elsewhere he drew huge crowds among Jews and Muslims as well as Christians as he warned of the evils of the time and preached the need for penance and church reform. A significant Read more…

A Dominican nun, Agnes (1268 – 1317) was renowned for her diligence in prayer and her extraordinary charity. Although born of a wealthy family in Gracchiano, Italy, she believed that charity is the only way to acquire the virtue of humility: there is no humility without charity; the one nourishes the other. She first joined Read more…

The following reflection is part of an ongoing series about the life of St. Dominic & the Order of Friars Preachers. St. Margaret was born to Emperor Bela IV and Mary Lascaris in 1242. She was placed in the Monastery of Veszprem for her education and later, she received the Dominican habit in Buda. She Read more…

A Dominican friar who later became pope, Benedict XI (1240 – 1304) was born Nicholas Boccasina to poor parents in Treviso, Italy. As a child, he was placed in the care of an uncle who was a priest there. He proved highly intelligent, so his uncle taught him Latin and other clerical subjects. Benedict was Read more…

The following homily was written by our Holy Father, Pope Francis. In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, Read more…

A great philosopher and theologian, esteemed by many as the greatest Doctor of the Church and the “Universal Teacher of the Church,” Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 74) devoted his life to teaching, preaching, and writing. Born in Rocca Secca, Italy, Thomas was both saint and genius. His writings are recognized as milestones in the history Read more…

Peter of Verona (1205 – 52) was the first canonized martyr of the Dominican Order. Born in Verona, Italy, of parents who had embraced the heresy of Cartharism, he was educated at the University of Bologna and was accepted into the Dominican Order by Dominic himself. Because the Dominicans were theologically trained preachers, the popes Read more…

Of all the early Dominican writers, Humbert of Romans (1200 – 1277), the fifth master general of the Order, most clearly recapitulated the Dominican ideal. His major concern was to help his brothers understand their vocation as preachers and to clarify Dominican law and Dominican life. His profound writings on the “grace of preaching” stress Read more…

A noted writer of sermons and scriptural commentaries and a leading Dominican bishop, Bartholomew of Breganza (1201 – 70) was born in Vicenza, Italy, and educated at the University of Padua. During his studies at the university he met Dominic and joined the Dominican Order. After ordination Bartholomew was sent to preach against heresy in Read more…

Known as the “Apostle of Poland,” Hyacinth (1185 – 1257) was born of a noble family in Silesia. Trained as a priest, he was appointed a canon by his uncle, the bishop of Krakow, who took him to Rome on church business in 1220. Here Hyacinth met Dominic, who influenced him so profoundly that he Read more…