formation

3. After the death of Charlemagne (814) the Holy
Roman Empire went to ruins.
• And the Church experienced one of the worst periods in
history. Aside from the deadly sea raids of Normans,
Vikings, and Saracens, the Church suffered the abuses of
kings, emperors, and powerful families.
• The Vatican was rocked by deaths and scandals.
• Many priests and Bishops were unworthy of their
ordination, which they pursued for political and material
interests.
• It was in this dark time that Francis and Dominic were born

5. The Son of a rich merchant of Assisi, was born in
(1181). At the age of 25, as he was praying in the
Church of St. Damien, he heard the voice of Jesus
who said three times: “Francis, go and repair my
Church, which you see in ruins.
He started rebuilding that small chapel and
giving money and clothes to the poor.
His father was furious and demanded his
property back.
Francis, in front of the Bishop’s palace, stripped
himself of his clothes and said: This clothes are
also yours. I have called you father on earth; but
now I say: Our Father, who are in heaven

6.  Barefoot and ragged
 St. Francis began a life of penance and prayer.
 He was soon followed by many disciples, attracted by
his spirit of poverty and brotherly love.
 In 1210 they went to Rome. Pope Innocent III, who in
a dream had seen St. Francis supporting the Church
ready to fall, approved the new order with the name
of Friars Minor.
 St. Francis, then ordained a deacon,
 Performed countless miracles and reformed the
Church with his example of evangelical poverty and
love.
 Also the Muslims, whom he visited in North Africa,
were impressed by his faith.
 He initiated at Greccio the beautiful tradition of
making the crib at Christmas, as a memorial of the
poor birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

7.  The following year he retired to Mount
Averna, where he received the stigmata
of our Lord. There he also composed the
Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon.
At the age of 44,
 When the time of his eternal departure
came near, he gathered his friars to the
Portiuncola and said them: I have done
my part; may Christ teach you to do
yours.

8. The stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

10. St. Dominic was born in Spain in 1170.
 He discovered his vocation when a heretic went back to the
Catholic Church after listening to his words.
 Three times he refused to become a Bishop, being convinced that
God had called him rather to the work of preaching.
 The divine inspiration led him to develop an order of wandering
missionaries, known as Ordo Praedicatorum, that received papal
approval in 1216.
 The Dominicans were dedicated to prayer, humility, and preaching.
Unlike many fellow priests of his age,
 St. Dominic led a poor and humble life. He never travelled with
expensive horses, nor did he stayed in the best inns.
 One day he said to a rich Bishop who was accompanied by soldiers
and servants:

11. St. Dominic
held in high
esteem the
study of the
Bible and of
Sacred
Theology. He
advised his
fellow preacher
to speak only
for God or with
God

12.  The enemies of the faith cannot be overcome like that. Arm
yourself with prayer, rather than a sword; wear humility rather
than fine clothes
Another day being asked in what book he studied
his sermons,
 He answered: in no other than the book of Love. Indeed he had
a strong love for the Church, for all men, and specially for the
Mother of God.
 He was the one who introduced and developed the beautiful
prayer of the Holy Rosary in honour of the Virgin Mary.
 Absolutely committed to his mission, he advised his fellow
preachers to speak only of God or with God.
Dominic and Francis met in Rome in 1216.
 It was a memorable event. The two great saints were the
instrument chosen by our Lord to restore the Church: the first
by loving preaching, the second by humble poverty.

13. St. Dominic
receives the
Holy Rosary
from the Virgin
Mary. His
fervent
promotion
made it the
most beloved
prayer among
Christians.

14. This outstanding Dominican was one of the greatest theologians in history.
Born in 1225 of a noble family at Naples, he entered the Dominican Orders and
studied in Paris under Albertus Magnus. He began an attempt to bring the
philosophy of Aristotle into Christian doctrine, being convinced that faith and
human reason are complementary and confirm each other. His Summa
Theologiae is considered the best theological masterpiece ever written.

15. The Church in the Middle Ages
was often upset by scandals and
internal struggles.
 In 1303, Pope Boniface VIII, who had
bravely defended the independence
of the Church from political intrusion,
died of heart attack after two
partisans at the service of the king of
France dared to slap him in Anagni.
Boniface VIII was the one who, in the
year 1300, started the tradition of
celebrating the Jubilee Year.