St Dominic of Silos

St Dominic was born in Spain.  His parents raised sheep and did not have much money.  Dominic spent many hours in the fields looking after the sheep.  He enjoyed the peace and quiet and spent a lot of time praying.

When he was old enough, he entered the Benedictine monastery and became a monk.  He was appointed abbot of the monastery and he was a very good and loving leader.

The King of Spain had a disagreement with Dominic over some land that the monks owned.  The king wanted the land for his property but Dominic would not let him have it.  The king was very angry and ordered Dominic and 2 other brothers to leave his kingdom.

Dominic and the 2 other monks left their land and were welcomed in the neighboring kingdom.  There, the new king gave them an old monastery called St. Sebastian of Silos, which became one of the  most well known monasteries in Spain.

100 years after Dominic died, a young woman named Joan made a pilgrimage to his tomb.  Dominic appeared to her and told her she was going to have another son.  The woman, who we know as Blessed Joan of Aza, did have another baby and she called him Dominic after Dominic of Silos.  Her son grew up and became the great St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican order.