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St. Dominic -

The Order of Preachers (sometimes abbreviated as OP), aka the Dominican Order or simply the Dominicans, was founded in 1216 by a Spanish canon regular (a priest) named Dominic de Guzmán.

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Dominican saints -

Dominic de Guzmán later became known as Saint Dominic. The rise of numerous heretical sects at the time led Dominic to embark on a mission to evangelized and teach people about Catholicism.

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Dominicans -

St. Dominic eventually founded the Dominicans. Pictured is a room of the Maison Seilhan in Toulouse, France, where Dominic de Guzmán lived.

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Rules -

The OP followed their own set of rules: the Regula Sancti Augustini (‘The Rule of Saint Augustine’). The teachings were heavily focused on poverty and charity towards the sick and poor, as well as preaching the gospel.

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Mission -

Preaching was a big priority of the Order, and indeed heresy became a concern for the Dominicans. Eventually, Pope Gregory IX appointed the Order the duty of carrying out the Inquisition.

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Mission and sainthood -

The Dominicans did, however, spread across the world in evangelization missions. For centuries, Dominican missionaries have preached the word of God, and many of these men and women were later canonized. Now, let's take a look at some of the most prominent Dominican saints.

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St. Raymond of Penyafort -

Born a noble in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain, circa 1175, Penyafort was a lawyer and didn't join the Dominicans until he was 47. St. Raymond of Penyafort went on to serve as the Master of the Dominicans and compile the collection of canonical laws 'Decretals of Gregory IX.' He's the patron saint of lawyers.

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St. Hyacinth of Poland -

The Polish Dominican priest and missionary is known for his miracle when the Mongols attacked his friar. The Virgin Mary asked him to be saved, and he carried her heavy statue with great ease. The "Apostle of the North," as St. Hyacinth was known, died in 1257.

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St. Albert the Great -

The knowledge of the German Dominican friar and bishop went way beyond theology. A Doctor of the Church, St. Albert the Great was also a philosopher and scientist. This Dominican saint died in 1280.

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St. Peter of Verona -

The Italian preacher, also known as St. Peter Martyr, was killed by the Cathars, a Gnostic sect at the time. The story goes that a man named Carino of Balsamo struck him in the head with an axe. St. Peter rose and recited the Apostle's Creed, and then wrote "I believe in God" on the ground using his own blood. Carino of Balsamo repented and later joined the Dominicans.

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St. Thomas Aquinas -

The Italian saint is one of the most important theologists and scholars in the history of the Church. St. Thomas Aquinas is the author of the Summa Theologiae, which compiles the major teachings of the Catholic Church.

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St. Margaret of Hungary -

The daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary joined a Dominican convent, where she became a nun and dedicated her life to prayer and penance.

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St. Agnes of Montepulciano -

St. Agnes, who is known for her healing miracles, became a Franciscan abbess by age 20. One day, when St. Agnes was sick, she had a vision of St. Dominic and, soon after, St. Agnes and her sisters joined the Dominican Order.

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St. Catherine of Siena -

St. Catherine was a mystic who played a prominent role in the reformation of the Church. She's the author of 'The Dialogue of Divine Providence,' which describes the relationship between God and the soul.

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St. Catherine of Siena -

St. Catherine of Siena started having visions of Jesus when she was a child, and was eventually canonized in 1461. Her preserved head and hand can be seen at Saint Dominic's Basilica in Siena, Italy.

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St. Vincent Ferrer -

The Spanish preacher played an important role in the resolution of the Western Schism. But he's mostly famous for being an avid preacher, for which he was nicknamed "The Angel of the Last Judgment."

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St. Antoninus of Florence -

St. Antoninus joined the Dominicans when he was 16, and went on to be appointed Archbishop of Florence. He is known for his service to the poor and his community.

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Pope St. Pius V -

Pope St. Pius V is best known for helping with implementation of the Council of Trent reforms, and for standardizing the Roman Rite. He also played a major role in uniting Europe against the Ottoman invasion.

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St. Bartholomew of Braga -

The Portuguese Dominican saint became Archbishop of Braga, in Portugal, in 1558. He played a key role in the Council of Trent, and spent most of his life caring for the poor.

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St. Catherine de' Ricci -

Devoted to the Passion of Christ, St. Catherine joined a community of sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic in Tuscany, Italy. She is known for having experienced visions and ecstasies, as well as stigmata.

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St. Louis Bertrand -

St. Louis Bertrand was a Spanish Dominican friar who preached in South America, which earned him the nickname "Apostle to the Americas." He is also known to have helped many people when Valencia was hit by the plague.

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St. John of Cologne -

St. John of Cologne died a martyr in 1572 by the hands of the Dutch Calvinists. The priest was part of the Martyrs of Gorkum, a group of of 19 Dutch Catholic clerics who were hung in Brielle, Netherlands.

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St. Martin de Porres -

Martin de Porres was a Peruvian lay brother of the Dominicans who dedicated his life to the poor. St. Martin de Porres is known for performing numerous miracles, including healings, levitation, and bilocation.

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St. John Macias -

St. John Macias, also known as San Juan Macías, was a Dominican friar known for his evangelization work in Peru in 1620.

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St. Rose of Lima -

St. Rose of Lima was a Third Order Dominican from Lima, Peru. She dedicated her life to prayer and penance. St. Rose of Lima died in 1617.

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St. Louis de Montfort -

St. Louis de Montfort, called the "Apostolic Missionary" by Pope Clement XI, is known as the founder of the Company of Mary and the Daughters of Wisdom. St. Louis de Montfort also famously wrote the 'Secret of the Rosary' and 'True Devotion to Mary.'

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St. Vicente Liem de la Paz -

Born in Tonkin (present-day North Vietnam) to Christian parents, St. Vicente Liem de la Paz died a martyr for his faith in 1773.

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St. Ignatius Delgado -

Born in Villafeliche, Spain, in 1761, St. Ignatius Delgado went on to preach in Vietnam, where he worked as a missionary for almost 50 years. The Dominican priest died a martyr in Vietnam.

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St. Francisco Coll Guitart -

The Spanish friar is known for founding the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. St. Francisco Coll Guitart was canonized in 2009.

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St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero -

Born in Argentina in 1840, the "Cowboy Priest," as he was known, spread the gospel across the country. St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero became a saint in 2016, after a miraculous healing was attributed to him.

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St. Peter Sanz -

St. Peter Sanz was a Catalan Dominican friar who worked as a missionary to China, where he died a martyr in 1747.

See also: The gruesome ways saints have died

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