The Hidden Light

Dominic lived in a time of ferment. The Moorish advance across Europe had been pushed back – even Dominic’s home town of Caraluega had seen the struggle against the Moorish invasion - easing the situation there, but nations were coalescing and the population expanding at an unprecedented rate. The small rural communities were changing in nature – and the social cohesion they represented – as towns sprang up and grew larger, encouraging migration into the urban areas in search of work which often was not there, with an increase in destitution ... This proved a challenge to the Church and often it was unable to respond as it should. There was a great spiritual hunger that often was not being satisfied by the Church. Many of the clergy were uneducated and ignorant of the faith they were meant to pass on, and their people suffered and often went elsewhere to find the spirituality for which they hungered. On the other hand, the Guzman family were surely not unique in the depth of their spiritual life and love for God which they expressed in social concern for the poor, and the uncle was surely not the only wise and holy priest who could inspire a young child like Dominic to follow in his footsteps. The Bishop of Osma, the holy Don Martin Bazan, had already set reforms in train in his diocese, starting with his own priests and his own chapter, and had already marked out the young Dominic Guzman to help him in his reforms. Although the canons of the chapter were not a religious order, Bazan had decreed that they would be known as Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, observing the Rule of Saint Augustine and wearing a white tunic under a rochet, with a black mantle when in choir. The bishop and the Prior of the cathedral chapter, Don Diego d’Acebes, now wanted ardent young men to devote themselves within the cathedral precincts to a life of prayer, devout celebration of the liturgy and instruction of the faithful. They had noted the exceptional quality of that young student, his infectious joy that was coupled with personal asceticism, his kindness and thoughtfulness to those around him and a maturity unusual in one so young. Dominic was invited to join them and eagerly accepted. As soon as he had completed his studies he was clothed with the black and white of the cathedral canons and soon after was ordained to the priesthood soon as he had completed his studies he was clothed with the black and white of the cathedral canons and soon after was ordained to the priesthood.