St. Dominic
Patron of preachers, astronomers, the falsely accused, Dominican Order
Saint Dominic Guzmán (1170–1221), a Castilian canon, was struck on a journey through Languedoc by the strength of the Albigensian heresy and the inadequacy of the Catholic response — sumptuous prelates trying to argue down barefoot heretics. He founded the Order of Preachers, friars who would imitate the apostolic life in genuine poverty and devote themselves to study and preaching of the truth. By his death the Dominicans were established in every great university city of Europe; within a century they had produced Thomas Aquinas, Albert the Great, Catherine of Siena and Meister Eckhart. Tradition makes him the recipient of the Rosary from the hands of Our Lady.