08 July 2019

Trial by Fire - Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic de Guzman was a Castilian priest and founder of the Dominican Order who lived during the period 1170 to 1221 AD. During his time the Albigensian heresy was predominant and propagated several erroneous teachings against the Catholic faith. It mainly flourished in Southern France and many Christians were drawn to their views. St. Dominic was greatly troubled by this and prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary who appeared to St. Dominic and gave him the Rosary. Our Lady is also believed to have made known to him a new kind of preaching which would be a powerful weapon against future errors and difficulties. Soon after, he founded the Dominican Order in 1216 AD.

He often marvellously defended the Catholic teachings against the heresies. One day some of the heretics approached him and proposed a challenge. Each side would put in writing the strongest defence of their cause and the judges would decide the winner. The people who were appointed to judge the debate were known for their favour towards the Albigensian views. However, after the arguments of both sides were heard, the judges refused to pronounce a judgement. It was then that the heretics demanded a different form of trial – a trial of fire. They wanted both the books to be put to a fire so that God Himself would declare which of their views had His favour. This was an unusual demand. Nevertheless, Saint Dominic agreed to it. The two volumes were cast into the fire. The books of the heretics caught fire immediately and were reduced to ashes! The book written by Saint Dominic not only remained unhurt, but was borne upward by the flames in the presence of the whole assembly. Again a second and third time they threw it into the fire, and each time the same result followed, clearly showing God’s favour and the holiness of Saint Dominic. Seeing this miracle, a few of the heretics were converted that day to the Catholic faith whilst some of them chose to remain firm in their heretic views.

This great miracle is mentioned in the lessons for the Divine Office composed by Constantine Medici, Bishop of Orvieto, in 1254. Some years after the miracle, Charles le Bel, King of France, purchased the house where the event had taken place and converted it into a chapel under the patronage of Saint Dominic. The large beam of wood on which the book had eventually fallen was preserved.