Communities
of the Holy Preaching 

Keystone from the original building at Prouille, showing the Agnus Dei, the emblem of the preachers.

"Communities of the Holy Preaching" is a term that was used from the beginning days of the Dominican Order in the early 13th Century. The earliest name for the Order was "The Preaching of Jesus Christ."

Dominic de Guzman of Caleruega, Spain and his friend and fellow preacher, Diego de Acebo, Bishop of Osma, Spain organized bands of preachers upon the request of Pope Innocent III. Their mission was to try to combat the spiritual confusion, dualism, and even anti-Christian teachings of Catharism. The first community of the Holy Preaching was in Prouille in Southern France (1206). It was known as "The preaching of the House of Prouille." It was a place for rest and recollection for the preachers as well as a spiritual support for their efforts. Prouille was a regular institution in accordance with the traditional monastic life, and had a permanent community, women converts from the Cathar movement. "Communities of the Holy Preaching" was the name given to the entire enterprise of preaching the Word of God, with common life, study, and prayer as the basis for the preaching mission. As the Order grew, these communities of the Holy Preaching were found in other geographical areas, each with the name, "The Preaching of the convent of..."

History drawn from SAINT DOMINIC AND HIS TIMES
by M.-H. Vicaire; Alt Publishing Company, Green Bay, WIS.

For further information on the history of the Dominican Order,
see Dominican Central.