St. Dominic de Guzman

Castilla is a region in Spain with wide horizons, clear skies and full of life. The region is named so because the owners of the land built many castles to protect their properties from invasion of their enemies. In 1770, our dearest St. Dominic was born in the small city of Caleruega, province of Burgos, between two famous cities of Aranda de Duero and Santo Domingo de Silos, in the middle of Castilla. His parents, Felix de Guzman and Juana de Aza were landlords in Caleruega. His father employed workers who painted and harvested wheat attended to the vine-yards, and people who herded the sheep and the cattle of the land-owners. His mother chose his name Dominic in honor of the abbot of the monastery in Silos near Caleruega. His mother was a servant in the castle of the Land-owner and her primary task was to take care of his children. She opened her home to everyone seeking for help. On one occasion, she gave away to the poor, the precious wines that her husband has been keeping for a long time. But alas, surprisingly, the wine barrels were all full giving truth to the saying, “He who gives more, has more.” Dominic was the youngest of all three children. Dominic learned to read and write from his family. At the age of seven, he was sent to Gumiel de Izan which is near their home, to study under guidance of Don Gonzalo, his uncle, his mother’s brother, a priest. He also began reading and learning about the bible at the age of fourteen, he expressed his desire to become a priest. Dominic dedicated a significant amount of his time to his studies to acquire knowledge. He didn’t waste any time and was studying even until the late hours of the night. He read all his book with great interest and wrote notes on the margins of his books. While in Palencia, besides cultivating his thirst for knowledge, he forged a friendship with Jesus and considered Him as his best friend. The image of Christ crucified on the cross attracted him so much that he took at heart the gospels