France. To counter the Albigensian heretics in southern France, Saint Dominic de Guzmán founded a convent in Notre-Dame-de-Prouille for Cathar girls who converted to Catholicism. In 1215, based on the Rule of Saint Augustine, Dominic gave his followers a religious order, formally recognized in 1216 by Pope Honorius III. The Albigensian heretics are no longer heard of, so the Dominicans were quite effective…
