Born in Caleruega, Spain around the year 1170, Dominic was the son of Felix Guzman and Joanna of Aza, members of the nobility. Both his mother and brother, Manes, would eventually be beatified by the Church. Dominic was trained for the priesthood by a priest-uncle, studied the arts and theology, and became a canon of the cathedral at Osma.
 
While traveling in France with the bishop, Dominic observed the vile effects of the Albigensian heresy. This heresy wrongly taught that all material things, including the human body itself, were fundamentally evil. This belief was so dangerous that it often praised the suicide of its members, most of them by means of self-inflicted starvation! The inner circle led what was regarded as a heroic life of purity and asceticism not shared by ordinary followers.
 
In 1204 Dominic and Bishop Diego were sent by Pope Innocent III to France to assist in the effort against the Albigensians. When Dominic debated the heretics, many threatened him with violence. Despite the threats, Dominic traveled throughout the region, preaching and converting many back to Catholic Christian faith and practice. Soon, Dominic's extreme physical asceticism caused him to fall into a coma, during which the Virgin Mary appeared to him and instructed him to promote the prayer of the Rosary. Its focus on the incarnation and life of Christ directly countered the Albigensian attitude towards matter as evil.
 
During that same year, Dominic returned to Tolouse and established a convent which would become the first Dominican house. After this, Dominic became famous as a result of his mercy and his work. At least three times was Dominic petitioned to be made bishop but he refused, saying he would rather run away with nothing than become a bishop. He then made it his mission to establish an order dedicated to promoting morality and the expulsion of heresy. Permissonfor this was eventually granted and Dominic and his followers were dubbed "The Order of Preachers."
 
Dominic spent the last several years of his life building up the order and continuing his preaching missions, during which he is said to have converted some 100,000 people. After several weeks of illness, Dominic died in Italy on August 6, 1221.
 
This print is part of the "Happy Saint" collection by Anna Morelli.
 
The image is professionally printed, hand-signed by the artist, and comes enclosed in a plastic sleeve to ensure protection.