Saint Dominic of Silos

Dominic (c. 1000–1073) was a shepherd boy in La Rioja, Spain, who became a Benedictine monk. In 1041 he was sent to the ruined monastery of Silos and made it a great center of prayer, art and learning. He was known for ransoming Christian captives.

Blessed Joan of Aza prayed at his shrine before giving birth to Saint Dominic de Guzmán, who was named after him. Until 1931 the abbot's staff of Silos was brought to the bedside of Spain's queens in labor. In 1994 the Silos monks' album Chant became a surprise US bestseller.