Saint Dominic of Silos
Spanish Benedictine abbot who revived the monastery of Silos in the eleventh century
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Religious
- Life
- 1000 – 1073
- Era
- 11th century
- Feast
- 20 December
- Countries
- Spain
Life story
Dominic was born around the year 1000 at Cañas in La Rioja, Spain. He became a Benedictine at the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla, was ordained a priest, and rose to be master of novices and then prior.
According to the usual accounts he and two fellow monks were driven out of the monastery for refusing to hand over its lands to King García Sánchez III of Navarre. Under the protection of King Ferdinand I of León, he and his companions settled around 1041 at the decayed monastery of St Sebastian at Silos, which then had six monks.
As abbot he reformed the community and rebuilt the monastery both spiritually and physically, including its Romanesque cloister. He founded a scriptorium that made Silos a centre of book production and learning. Tradition adds that he raised money to ransom Christians captured by the Moors; this is a tradition, not documented history.
Dominic died at Silos on 20 December 1073. The monastery and town were later renamed after him. Tradition says that about a century later Joan of Aza prayed at his tomb before the birth of the future Saint Dominic de Guzmán, and his abbatial staff was placed beside Spanish queens in labour until 1931.
Works and witness
- Ordained a priest, master of novices and prior at San Millán
- Refounded the monastery of St Sebastian at Silos from about 1041
- Founded the scriptorium at Silos
- Died on 20 December 1073
Saints from the same country
References
- Franciscan Media, Saint Dominic of Silos (franciscanmedia.org)
- Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent), The Benedictine Order and Ligugé entries on Silos (newadvent.org/cathen/02443a.htm; 09247a.htm)
- EWTN, St. Dominic of Silos (ewtn.com)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.