How St. Dominic Raised a Widow’s Son from the Dead

NOTE:

The following miracles which Blessed Dominic, our father, worked in Rome were narrated by Sr. Cecilia of Rome. She was sent by Pope Honorius, of happy memory, with three other sisters from San Sisto to teach the community of St. Agnes in Bologna about the Order of Preachers, during the days of venerable Father Master Jordan.

Sister Cecilia received the habit from Blessed Dominic’s hands and made profession into his hands three times. She is still living in that same convent and is highly esteemed for the vigor of her holiness.

 

A certain widow, a Roman citizen of the Buvallsco family, by the name of Lady Tuta, from the parish of the Holy Savior in Pensilio, held Blessed Dominic in great veneration. She had a small son, her only child, who was seriously ill. One day when Blessed Dominic was preaching in her city in the Church of St. Mark, this woman, in response to a strong impulse to hear the word of God from his lips, left her sick child at home and went to the church where Blessed Dominic was preaching the Lord’s word. When the sermon was over, she returned home to find that the child had died. Although she was beside herself with grief, she managed to conceal it in silence and trusted in the power of God and the merits of Blessed Dominic. She called her maidservants and, taking her dead child with her, proceeded to the church of San Sisto, where St. Dominic was then living with the brethren. Because this convent was being altered to receive the sisters, not only the workmen, but other people, as well, were going in and out. When she entered, she found him standing by the door of the chapter-hall as though waiting for someone. Seeing him, she placed her child at his feet and, prostrating herself before him, begged him with tears to restore her son. Then Blessed Dominic, moved by the sight of her great grief, retreated a short distance and prayed for a few moments. Then he arose and, coming near the child, he made a Sign of the Cross over him. Then taking his hand, he raised him from the ground restored to life and health and gave him to his mother with orders not to tell anyone. But when she returned home, in her great delight she reported what had happened to her and her child, so that the story reached the ears of the Supreme Pontiff, who wanted to proclaim this miracle to everyone in a public sermon. But Blessed Dominic, who sincerely loved and wished to safeguard his humility, objected and declared that, if this were done, he would stay no longer in that place, but would go to the Moslems across the sea. Fearing this, the Pope promised not to make it known. But Our Lord, Who said in the Gospel that whosoever humbles himself shall be exalted, and Who customarily extols and exalts His servants against their intentions and plans, so aroused the devotion of the people and ruler to revere Blessed Dominic, that they followed him everywhere as though he were an angel and would consider themselves blessed if they could but touch him or own a shred of his clothing as a relic. This is why they cut pieces from his capuce and cape until it scarcely reached his knees. When the brethren forbade this, the blessed father, sympathizing with their devotion, said, “Let them do it to satisfy their devotion.” Those who witnessed this great miracle were Brother Tancred, Brother Otto, Brother Henry, Brother Gregory, Brother Albert, and many others who later gave the details to Sr. Cecilia, who was then living in the monastery of St. Mary in Tempulo, as well as to a number of other nuns.