During today's General Audience address, Benedict XVI recalled the life and example of our Holy Father Dominic.  In his remarks, the Pope explained how Dominic's apostolic zeal was sparked, among other things, by the theological and spiritual plight of the Albigensians of early thirteenth-century France, and how his answer to this problem was to provide the Church educated preachers and confessors.  Although it may be difficult to find Albigensians today, Dominicans still have their work cut out for them in confronting various modern errors that prevent men and women from enjoying fully the grace of Christ's incarnation.

Below is the English summary Pope Benedict delivered after his general remarks.  If you would like to see another video covering today's audience, click here.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I wish to speak of the great contribution made by Saint Dominic to the renewal of the Church in the Middle Ages. As a priest of the Spanish diocese of Osma, he was sent on missions throughout Europe, which drew his attention to the need for sound and zealous preachers to bring the Gospel to the people. He was entrusted with the task of refuting the heresy of the Albigensians, who denied the incarnation of Christ, the resurrection of the body and the value of marriage and the sacraments. Embracing a life of poverty, Dominic dedicated himself to the task of preaching the Gospel, and with a band of followers he established the Order of Preachers, also known as Dominican Friars. Adapting the rule of Saint Augustine to the needs of the apostolic life, Dominic placed emphasis on theological study, prayer and community life for his Friars. Thus fortified, they would be sent out on missions as itinerant, mendicant preachers. Hence the Dominican motto, contemplata aliis tradere - to hand on to others the fruits of contemplation. One important way in which the Dominicans did this was by promoting the prayer of the rosary, a beautiful means of contemplating, through the eyes of Mary, the truth revealed in the mysteries of the life, death and Resurrection of her son.