Saint Dominic and His Times

by Marie-Humbert Vicaire, Kathleen Pond (Translator)

This definitive life of Saint Dominic is much more than a straight biography. The latest research into the history of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and the author's own extensive and minutely detailed investigations of all the clues available in ancient documents, combine to put the man Dominic within the full setting of the times in which he lived, and so illuminate him vividly as a person. The author's extraordinary grasp of both the general outline and the detail of the European historical background ensures that the book is as valuable for its picture of Dominic's times as for its portrait of the man himself.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, History

548 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Fr Marie-Humbert Vicaire joined the Order of Preachers in 1928. While studying at the Saulchoir in Belgium he acted as secretary to Fr Mandonnet (d. 1936). In 1937 he was called to the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) to occupy the chair of Church History founded by the same Fr Mandonnet. There he published, under the latter's name, the two volumes of St Dominic: The Idea, the Man and the Work.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE St. Dominic biography, expertly balancing scholarly historical narrative with a clear presentation of the founder's sanctity. Perhaps the most surprising part is the "His Times" portion. Indeed the reader will learn much concerning the troubling times in Europe during which the mendicant/apostolic orders arose. Vicaire deftly shifts between discussions of the (macro) socio-political context of the continent (or at least region) and (micro) biography and discussion of Dominic, his companions, and the development, founding, growth, and success of the Order of Preachers.

[Chad Toney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though very dry at times and overly-focused on dates and documents, this was a great into for to the life of St. Dominic and his environment.