Editing Dominican Order (section)

===Preaching to the Cathars===
In 1203, Dominic de Guzmán joined [[Diego de Acebo]], the [[Bishop of Osma]], on a [[diplomatic mission]] to Denmark for the monarchy of Spain, to arrange the marriage between the son of King [[Alfonso VIII of Castile]] and a niece of King [[Valdemar II of Denmark]].{{sfn|O'Connor|1909}} At that time the south of France was the stronghold of the [[Catharism|Cathar]] movement. The Cathars (also known as Albigensians, due to their stronghold in [[Albi]], France) were considered a [[Christian heresy|heretical]] neo-[[gnostic]] sect. They believed that matter was evil and only the spirit was good; this was a fundamental challenge to the notion of the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|incarnation]], central to [[Catholic theology]]. The [[Albigensian Crusade]] (1209–1229) was a 20-year military campaign initiated by [[Pope Innocent III]] to eliminate [[Catharism]] in [[Languedoc]], in southern [[France]].

Dominic saw the need for a response that would attempt to sway members of the Albigensian movement back to mainstream Catholic thought.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.op.org/history/ |title="History", Ordo Praedicatorum |access-date=2023-03-10 |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310020052/https://www.op.org/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Better source|date=April 2025}} Dominic became inspired to achieve this by preaching and teaching, starting near [[Toulouse]], since the Albigensian Christians refused to compromise their principles despite the overwhelming force of the [[Albigensian Crusade|crusades]] brought against them. Diego suggested another reason that was possibly aiding the spread of the reform movement. The representatives of the Catholic Church acted and moved with an offensive amount of pomp and ceremony. In contrast, the [[Catharism|Cathars]] generally led [[Asceticism|ascetic lifestyles]]. To try persuasion in place of persecution, Diego suggested that the regional papal legates begin to live a reformed apostolic life. The legates agreed to the proposed changes if they could find a strong leader who could meet the Albigensians on their own ground.{{Cn|date=April 2025}}

[[File:Doctrina-cristiana.jpg|thumb|right|Saint Dominic on the front cover of {{lang|la|[[Doctrina Christiana]]}} catechism in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] with an eight-pointed star (a symbol of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]]) over his head. Woodcut cover. Printed in Manila in 1593.]]

The prior took up the challenge, and he and Dominic dedicated themselves to the conversion of the Cathars.{{sfn|Hinnebusch|1975|p=23}} Despite this particular mission, Dominic met limited success converting Cathars by persuasion, "for though in his ten years of preaching a large number of converts were made, it has to be said that the results were not such as had been hoped for".{{sfn|Butler|1911|pp=401–402}} The differences in religious principles of the Albigensians called for far greater reforms than moderated appearances.{{Cn|date=April 2025}}