Submitted by Mary Ellen Green, OP

According to traditions held sacred by both the members of the Franciscan Order and the Dominican Order, Francesco Bernadone and Domingo de Guzman met during their lifetimes. According to Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, these are the details of that meeting:

In the summer of 1215 St. Francis had a vision of two men who would labor for the conversion of the world. Francis recognized himself as one of these apostles. He did not recognize the other one, however. 

The following day, he was in one of the churches of Rome when suddenly an unknown person came up to him, embraced him, and said: “You are my companion, we will work together, supporting one another toward the same end and no one will prevail against us.” Francis recognized him as the other man in the vision. It was St. Dominic, who had also received a similar vision.

Together they worked to evangelize 13th Century Europe. Today their followers continue to preach the Good News of Christ.

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