Memorial of St. Dominic, 1170-1221; Dominic studied arts and theology at the University of Palencia; he was appointed a canon regular of the Cathedral of Osma, ordained, and made prior in 1201; in diplomatic service to his bishop, he traveled across the Pyrenees to southern France several times, and encountered heretical communities, specifically, the Albigensians; Dominic and others attempted to bring the heretics back to the Catholic faith; he organized his followers, and the Order of Preachers--the Dominicans--grew to be a large family of friars, nuns, and third order laity