Blessed Joan of Aza was born around 1140 in the Old Castile region of Spain. She was known for both her beauty and her piety, and she made a fortunate match when she married into the faith-filled family of Felix de Guzman of Calaroga.

Joan had two grown sons a daughter and when she found herself praying for another child to fill her arms. While on retreat, Joan had a dream of a black and white dog carrying a torch in his mouth. When she shared this dream with her spiritual director, he suggested that this meant that the child she carried would grow to become the watchdog of the Church. Domini canes. She named this son Dominic....