What is the background of the Dominican Order?
The founder of the order was Dominic Guzman. He was born in Calruega, Spain, in the early 1170s. Dominic’s parents chose a clerical career for him. Although he came from two noble families, as a priest, Dominic lived a cloistered life, dedicated essentially to the public worship of God and to personal prayer and study. As a child Dominic was very compassionate to the poor and suffering, very studious and dedicated to study. Later on he became famous for his cheerfulness. The faithfulness to God and the church witnessed by his parents and family surely influenced Dominic’s embracing religious life. By the end of the twelfth century, heretical groups had expanded their beliefs throughout much of southern France. The pope needed preachers to spread the truth by word and example. Dominic did this, with his bishop, for ten years, moving from place to place and converting many heretics. He did what needed to be done. The Order of Preachers was not Dominic’s nor anyone else’s personal brainch
