Saint Dominic of Silos

Biography

Saint Dominic of Silos, also known as Dominic of Sylo or Domingo, was born in the year 1000 to a peasant family in Cañas, Navarre, Spain. In his youth, he worked as a shepherd, but he felt a calling to a deeper spiritual life. He became a Benedictine monk at the San Millán de Cogolla monastery. As Dominic's religious vocation progressed, he served as a priest and eventually became the novice master and prior of the house. During his tenure, King Garcia III of Navarre demanded that Dominic surrender the monastery's lands to him. However, Dominic refused to comply with the king's unjust request. As a result, he and two of his fellow monks were forcibly driven from the monastery. Seeking refuge, they approached King Ferdinand I of Old Castile and found a new home in the San Sebastian monastery at Silos, which is located in the diocese of Burgos. Despite facing numerous challenges, including the dilapidated state of the monastery, its financial difficulties, and its spiritual decline, Dominic was appointed as the abbot of Silos. With unwavering determination and faith, Dominic set out to revive the spiritual life of the monastery. He initiated efforts to improve its financial stability and undertook the physical reconstruction of the monastery. Under his leadership, the revived Silos monastery soon became a renowned spiritual center known for its excellence in book design, printed art, gold and silver work, and its charitable work towards the local poor. Saint Dominic of Silos was reputed to possess the gift of healing through prayer. He utilized his influence to gain wealthy patrons who endowed the monastery, allowing him to raise funds to ransom Christians who had been taken prisoner by the Moors. Throughout his life, Dominic earned a reputation as one of the most beloved saints in Spain. As early as 1085, churches and monasteries were dedicated to him. The monastery that he rebuilt came to be known as Saint Dominic's. After his death on December 10, 1073, his body was translated to the monastery church for veneration on January 5, 1076. Numerous miraculous healings were attributed to Saint Dominic's intercession, particularly in cases related to pregnancy. His abbatial staff became a sacred relic, used to bless Spanish queens during their times of labor. Devotees, especially pregnant women, flocked to his shrine seeking his powerful intercession. Blessed Joan de Aza de Guzmán, who had prayed at his shrine to conceive a child, named her son Dominic after the abbot of Silos. This child would go on to found the influential Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans. In religious artwork, Saint Dominic of Silos is often depicted as an abbot surrounded by the Seven Virtues. Chains are associated with him, representing his dedication to assisting prisoners and slaves. He is also depicted as a mitred abbot enthroned with a book and a veil tied to his crozier. Saint Dominic of Silos is venerated as the patron saint against hydrophobia, insects, mad dogs, rabies, captives, pregnant women, and prisoners. His feast day is celebrated on December 20th. His life serves as an inspiring testament to his unwavering faith, his commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing his monastery, and his dedication to helping those in need.