Dominic de Guzman: Joyful Friar
When
Dominic de Guzman (1170 -1221) founded the Order of
Preachers, or Dominicans,
at the beginning of the 13th century the world he knew
was in turmoil. Europe's agrarian population was shifting
to urban centers, creating waves of change that affected
all of life, including econmoic and social relations,
poititics and religion. Universities established in
these new urban centers were attractiving the interest
of the new generation and the attention of Dominic as
well.
The passion of Dominic's life became
the centerpiece of his way of life -- to preach the
gospel wherever its good news needed to be heard. He
created the vision of an itinerant Order that would
go wherever people needed to hear the good news. He
also believed that for this preaching to be authentic
the preahers needed the support of a communal life
where they could pursue constant prayer and a mendicant
life, begging for the needs of the community and
for the words needed for preaching. Dominic believed
this gathering itself would be a holy preaching.
In every generation since then others have followed
this same path and it is in this sense that Dominic's
charism is a living tradition.
According to the tradition that
has been passed on from those who knew Dominic, he was
a joyful friar. Wherever he
went, he conveyed an enthusiasm for the gospel. People
found this inviting because it offered them hope. Dominic
shared his intense desire to know God more deeply, and
his own devotion to prayer and study gave witness to
this.
Source: excerpt from Dominic's charism, Dominican Foundations
series. |
A
charism is a gift of God's Spirit given to some for the
sake of others. |