In late July 1206, Dominic de Guzman sat on a hillside overlooking a broad valley in southern France.
He could not see it in the dark, but he knew the little church of Our Lady of Prouille stood at the crossroads.
Dominic was at a major crossroad in his own life, which seemed to be falling apart.
From childhood he had prepared to be a priest and live the contemplative life of a Canon Regular of St. Augustine.
Then his bishop, Diego, had asked him to accompany him on a diplomatic journey that ultimately failed.
On the way they had encountered the Albigensian heretics who believed in two gods (one spiritual, the other material), hated marriage and esteemed suicide.
The two Spaniards began a new kind of preaching mission to convert them.
But now, the bishop had died and Dominic was all alone in a foreign country, out of money, and with nine convert women expecting him to form a religious community for them.
What was he to do?
Suddenly from the sky descended a large fireball which hovered over the small church and convent.
This was the supernatural sign, the seignadou, the sign from God he was seeking.
He would establish his nuns to pray for his work and those who would join him in the future.
This group of women would be the "first-born" of his "holy preaching" for the salvation of the world.
This photo was taken at the spot where Dominic would go to pray overlooking the valley of Prouille.
