The Spirit of Saint Dominic
In 1216 Saint Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers for the primary purpose of defending the truths of the Catholic Faith through prayer, study and holy preaching. Today, just as in previous ages, the Order of Preachers is called to bring God’s Truth to others to help revitalize, support and strengthen their faith through sound theology and the teachings of the Church.
Saint Dominic chose to give his life to Jesus Christ and the Church by dedicating himself to prayer and the preaching of the truth. He was remembered as speaking only to God and of God. Realizing the destructive effects of sin and the theological errors of his time, Saint Dominic made the study of sacred truth, VERITAS, one of the pillars of the Order of preachers.
Today in the world around us, life is full of falsehoods. Not only in the secular world but also within the Church we find false shepherds leading the flock astray, false truths, false Gospels. The heresy of today is relativism, social justice, climate change, the world believes it can live without God and the truth of the Gospel. As Dominicans we study the deposit of faith, the Apostolic truths, the Catholic Traditions. We learn from the early church disciples, from St. Thomas Aquinas, from St. Augustine, we look to the historical record, for the truth revealed by Christ cannot change over time. What was true in 100AD is still true today, the Gospel cannot be changed to meet the sinful desires of secularism.
The motto of the Order is: “To contemplate and to give to others the fruits of our contemplation.” The Dominican is first formed through a life of prayer, study and penance before he preaches to God’s people.
The many forms of Dominican preaching and witnessing must flow from graces received in interior silence, prayer and study. Saint Dominic realized that one first needed to be filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit before being able to bring His truth to others.
The Third Order of Dominicans is known as the Lay Dominicans. We are Dominicans as fully as the priests, deacons, nuns, and sisters of the Order. Lay Dominicans live in the world as married or single persons choosing a specific path to holiness by freely following a Rule based on the spirit of Saint Dominic. They bring the truth of the Gospel to their families, parishes, workplace and social gatherings, thus permeating all of society. In turn, the members share in the spiritual benefits of the Dominican Order. As Lay Dominicans we can bring th Gospel to places on this earth priests and sisters cannot. Through our individual lives and relationships we can be the Gospel for the world around us.
Lay Dominicans Are…
We are men and women, singles and couples living a Christian life with a Dominican spirituality in the secular world. We find our inspiration following the same spiritual path taken by many saints, blessed, and other holy men and women throughout the almost 800 year history of the Dominican Order.
As Dominicans, we strive to live this vocation to holiness by living within the elements of Dominican life based on Prayer, Study, Community, and Apostolate, the four pillars of Dominican Spirituality.
Our Chapter meetings provide community opportunities to pray, study and share the truths of the Gospel and the traditions of the Catholic Church.
The Four Pillars of Dominican Life
Prayer
We strive to make part of our daily life reception of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, along with personal meditation and prayer, including the Rosary. This commitment provides the strength necessary for our way of life.
Study
Prayerful study prepares us for the mission of the Order: preaching, in whatever fashion our state in life allows or occasions. Scripture, documents of the Church and spiritual and theological writers are the foundation of our continual effort to know the Truth.
Community
We are brothers and sisters, sharing a common spirit, who nurture and encourage one another. We are a worldwide community, and meet in local chapters. Our communities are governed democratically. Each of us share in our brothers’ and sisters’ struggle to live the Gospel.
Apostolate
We are active witnesses, striving to give service, compassion and enrichment to others. We achieve this through our holy preaching, Ministry of the Word, or our participation in various activities or initiatives..
To Become a Lay Dominican requires a commitment of formation.
The stages of formation include
Getting to know one another: Above all else, this first step allows the candidate to get to know the Order better. This step is normally conducted through regular meetings with one of the local chapters in the candidate’s area. The vocation director at the candidate’s local chapter will help the candidate discern whether or not he or she is made for Dominican life. If there is a positive response at the end of this step, the candidate will be invited to proceed to the next step.
Inquiry Period
One must be Catholic for at least two years before beginning the inquiry period. Through a series of classes over the course of one year, the local chapter presents an overview of what it means to be a Dominican. As this period of formation ends, the candidate may decide to request admission to the Order.
Candidacy
The duration of the candidacy is twelve months. The candidacy begins with the Dominican Order recognizing the candidate as a member of the Order. This is a more formal formation period in the life of a fraternity member. This period includes diverse activities: the study of the life of St. Dominic and other great Dominican figures; the study of the Constitutions, the history of the Order, and the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic; and the general practice of the commitments of a lay Dominican (e.g., daily Mass, Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Rosary).
Temporary Promise
As the candidacy ends, candidates and the Order make a decision as to whether the candidate should make a commitment as a lay Dominican. Temporary promise is a commitment to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic for a period of three years. At the end of this period, the candidate and the Order decide if the candidate is prepared to make final or permanent profession.
Final Promise
When the decision is reached to move ahead and make final promise , the individual makes a commitment to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic for the rest of his or her life.
Dominicans are particularly committed to on-going formation both in the chapter and individually. Even though one has made a permanent commitment to be a Dominican, on-going study continues in the area of Dominican spirituality, the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, etc. Dominicans are always concerned about growing in understanding of both their faith and their Dominican vocation.
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2024 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage
Dominican Rosary
There is also a manner of praying the Rosary according to the Order of Preachers, which is more ancient, although identical to the normal Roman Catholic manner, except that the introductory prayers are based on the opening prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours. This harkens to the idea that the Rosary was “the layperson’s breviary.”
Praying the Rosary the Dominican Way:
Make the Sign of the Cross
V: Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee.
R: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
V: O Lord, open my lips.
R: And my mouth shall proclaim Your praise.
V: O God, come to my assistance.
R: O Lord, make haste to help me.
V: Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to The Holy Spirit,
R: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Announce the First Mystery and then say the “Our Father.”
Say 10 “Hail Marys” followed by the “Glory Be”
Announce the Second Mystery; then say the “Our Father” and repeat the above steps through the remaining Mysteries.
Say the “Hail Holy Queen” and verse.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. V. Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.
R. That we might be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Say the “Final Prayer..”
O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that, meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same
Christ our Lord. Amen.
V. May the Divine Assistance remain always with us.
R. Amen
V. And may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
R. Amen
V. And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit descend upon us and remain with us forever.
R. Amen
Make the Sign of the Cross
Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries( Tuesday & Friday)
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of the BVM
The Coronation of the BVM
Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)
The Baptism of Jesus
The Wedding of Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the call to conversion
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist
