St. Dominic — Overbrook's Patron Saint

St. Dominic was born in Caleruega, Spain, in 1170. He was known for his intellectual abilities, as well as his keen sense of fraternal and community life. In 1203, a diplomatic mission brought Dominic into the Albi region of southern France. There as a young canon, he felt a strong zeal for the salvation of souls when he encountered an innkeeper who had strayed from the Catholic faith. After a long night of intense discussion, the light of truth prevailed and the innkeeper returned to the practice of the faith.

Dominic’s spiritual vision became clearer as he journeyed through southern France and witnessed the effects of people leaving the faith. To combat the false teachings, Dominic realized the effect that priests with a mandate for traveling preaching could have if they lived with purity of heart. Dominic saw a need which extended beyond France. He envisioned a new religious order dedicated to preaching the Catholic faith throughout the world, to win the world back to Christ through preaching drawn from the wells of penance and prayer. Begun with a small group of priests in Toulouse, the Order of Preachers was formally founded in 1217. Dominic also established convents of nuns who would prayer for the conversion of sinners and for the fidelity and perseverance of the friars.

The Dominican Sisters of the St. Cecilia Congregation, who own and operate Overbrook, are descendants of St. Dominic in his Order of Preachers. That is why all of the sisters have the initials O.P. after their names.

Dominic’s idea was to form a revolutionary active monastery with a sense of balance between a monastic life and leaving the cloister to minister to others. The Dominican black and white represents that balance — black being penance with the white representing purity.

Just as St. Dominic’s life was punctuated by night vigils, fasting, prayer, and penance, the Dominican priests and sisters punctuate the secular world with the grace, life and light of Christ. With the Rosary in reach, the successors of St. Dominic continue to serve the Church, as faithful witnesses to the Word, with a devoted affection for His Mother.