All About the Dominicans
St. Dominic is often portrayed with a star on his forehead, since a star was said to appear at his Baptism. He is holding the letters and book of the Gospels, while holding a walking staff, indicating the Dominicans are not cloistered but go where they are needed to preach the Word of God. A dog holding a flaming torch is also often seen with St. Dominic, based on a dream of his mother's.
History
The Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order, was founded by the Spanish priest St. Dominic of Caleruega in France in 1216. Members of the order, who are referred to as Dominicans, generally carry the letters O.P. after their names, standing for Ordinis Praedicatorum, meaning of the Order of Preachers. Founded to preach the Gospel and to oppose heresy, the teaching activity of the order and its scholastic organization placed the Preachers in the forefront of the intellectual life of the Middle Ages. The order is famed for its intellectual tradition, having produced many leading theologians and philosophers.
St. Dominic inspired the members of his order to develop a "mixed" spirituality. They were called to be both active in preaching, and contemplative in study, prayer and meditation. The brethren of the Dominican Order were urban and learned, as well as contemplative and mystical in their spirituality. Not content to stay behind the walls of the monastery, Dominicans travelled among the people, taking as their examples the apostles of the early Church. They are especially remembered for the role they played in the Albigensian heresy. The Albigensians, more commonly known as the Cathars, held that matter was evil and only spirit was good; this was a fundamental challenge to the notion of the incarnation, central to Catholic theology.
In many countries the Dominican friars are referred to as "Black Friars" because of the black cloak they wear over their white habits. Dominicans are called "Blackfriars", as opposed to "Whitefriars" (i.e., Carmelites) or "Greyfriars" (i.e., Franciscans). The black and white habit of the Dominicans is symbolic. The black and white represents Truth over heresy. The white robe also represents the joy and purity of Christ, while the black cloak is a reminder of humility and obligation for penance.
Membership in the order includes friars, nuns, active sisters, and affiliated lay or secular Dominicans. Saint Catherine of Siena , Saint Rose of Lima, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Albert the Great were also Dominicans.
Dominican Spirituality
The spiritual tradition of Dominic's Order is punctuated not only by charity, study and preaching, but also by instances of mystical union. The Dominican emphasis on learning and on charity distinguishes it from other monastic and mendicant orders. Dominicans seek a deeply personal, intimate relationship with God. They believe that as the image of God grows within the seeker, he learns to rely less on an intellectual pursuit of virtue and more on a pursuit of charity and meekness. Meekness and charity guide Christians to acknowledge that they are nothing without the One (God/Christ) who created them, sustains them, and guides them. Christ guides the Christian's very nature to become centered on the One, and on his neighbor as well. Charity is the manifestation of the pure love of Christ, both for and by His follower.Although the ultimate attainment for this type of mysticism is union with God, it is not necessarily visionary, nor does it hope only for ecstatic experiences; instead, mystical life is successful if it is imbued with charity. The goal is just as much to become like Christ as it is to become one with Him.Those who believe in Christ should first have faith in Him without becoming engaged in such overwhelming phenomena.The idea of the "image of God" demonstrates both the ability of man to move toward God (as partakers in Christ's redeeming sacrifice), and that, on some level, man is always an image of God. As their love and knowledge of God grows and is sanctified by faith and experience, the image of God within man becomes ever more bright and clear.
Dominicans and the Rosary
Throughout the centuries, the rosary has been an important element among the Dominicans. Pope Pius XI stated that:The Rosary of Mary is the principle and foundation on which the very Order of Saint Dominic rests for making perfect the life of its members and obtaining the salvation of others. Histories of the rosary often attribute its origin to St. Dominic himself through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady of the Rosary is the title received by St. Dominic in 1208 in the church of Prouille in which the Virgin Mary gave the Rosary to him. For centuries, Dominicans have been instrumental in spreading the rosary and emphasizing the Catholic belief in the power of the rosary.
St. Dominic's Dog
St. Dominic is often portrayed with a dog holding a flaming torch in its mouth.The story is told that before his birth his barren mother made a pilgrimage to the Abbey at Silos and dreamed that a dog leapt from her womb carrying a torch in its mouth, and "seemed to set the earth on fire". The name "Dominican" continued the dog image, because the name Dominican in Latin is "Domini canis", or "Hounds of the Lord." Still today, one of the Dominican symbols is that of the travelling dog, still faithfully following the call of the Master.
The Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order, was founded by the Spanish priest St. Dominic of Caleruega in France in 1216. Members of the order, who are referred to as Dominicans, generally carry the letters O.P. after their names, standing for Ordinis Praedicatorum, meaning of the Order of Preachers. Founded to preach the Gospel and to oppose heresy, the teaching activity of the order and its scholastic organization placed the Preachers in the forefront of the intellectual life of the Middle Ages. The order is famed for its intellectual tradition, having produced many leading theologians and philosophers.
St. Dominic inspired the members of his order to develop a "mixed" spirituality. They were called to be both active in preaching, and contemplative in study, prayer and meditation. The brethren of the Dominican Order were urban and learned, as well as contemplative and mystical in their spirituality. Not content to stay behind the walls of the monastery, Dominicans travelled among the people, taking as their examples the apostles of the early Church. They are especially remembered for the role they played in the Albigensian heresy. The Albigensians, more commonly known as the Cathars, held that matter was evil and only spirit was good; this was a fundamental challenge to the notion of the incarnation, central to Catholic theology.
In many countries the Dominican friars are referred to as "Black Friars" because of the black cloak they wear over their white habits. Dominicans are called "Blackfriars", as opposed to "Whitefriars" (i.e., Carmelites) or "Greyfriars" (i.e., Franciscans). The black and white habit of the Dominicans is symbolic. The black and white represents Truth over heresy. The white robe also represents the joy and purity of Christ, while the black cloak is a reminder of humility and obligation for penance.
Membership in the order includes friars, nuns, active sisters, and affiliated lay or secular Dominicans. Saint Catherine of Siena , Saint Rose of Lima, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Albert the Great were also Dominicans.
Dominican Spirituality
The spiritual tradition of Dominic's Order is punctuated not only by charity, study and preaching, but also by instances of mystical union. The Dominican emphasis on learning and on charity distinguishes it from other monastic and mendicant orders. Dominicans seek a deeply personal, intimate relationship with God. They believe that as the image of God grows within the seeker, he learns to rely less on an intellectual pursuit of virtue and more on a pursuit of charity and meekness. Meekness and charity guide Christians to acknowledge that they are nothing without the One (God/Christ) who created them, sustains them, and guides them. Christ guides the Christian's very nature to become centered on the One, and on his neighbor as well. Charity is the manifestation of the pure love of Christ, both for and by His follower.Although the ultimate attainment for this type of mysticism is union with God, it is not necessarily visionary, nor does it hope only for ecstatic experiences; instead, mystical life is successful if it is imbued with charity. The goal is just as much to become like Christ as it is to become one with Him.Those who believe in Christ should first have faith in Him without becoming engaged in such overwhelming phenomena.The idea of the "image of God" demonstrates both the ability of man to move toward God (as partakers in Christ's redeeming sacrifice), and that, on some level, man is always an image of God. As their love and knowledge of God grows and is sanctified by faith and experience, the image of God within man becomes ever more bright and clear.
Dominicans and the Rosary
Throughout the centuries, the rosary has been an important element among the Dominicans. Pope Pius XI stated that:The Rosary of Mary is the principle and foundation on which the very Order of Saint Dominic rests for making perfect the life of its members and obtaining the salvation of others. Histories of the rosary often attribute its origin to St. Dominic himself through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady of the Rosary is the title received by St. Dominic in 1208 in the church of Prouille in which the Virgin Mary gave the Rosary to him. For centuries, Dominicans have been instrumental in spreading the rosary and emphasizing the Catholic belief in the power of the rosary.
St. Dominic's Dog
St. Dominic is often portrayed with a dog holding a flaming torch in its mouth.The story is told that before his birth his barren mother made a pilgrimage to the Abbey at Silos and dreamed that a dog leapt from her womb carrying a torch in its mouth, and "seemed to set the earth on fire". The name "Dominican" continued the dog image, because the name Dominican in Latin is "Domini canis", or "Hounds of the Lord." Still today, one of the Dominican symbols is that of the travelling dog, still faithfully following the call of the Master.
St. Dominic's Dog in stained glass, above the Dominican motto "Veritas"
|
St. Dominic and the dog
|
This image of a black dog on a white background, ready to "set the world on fire" is the most common image of St. Dominic's dog.
|
Dominican Mottoes
Contemplare et Contemplata Aliis Tradere
(To study and to hand on the fruits of study)
|
Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare
(To praise, to bless and to preach)
|
Veritas
(Truth)
|
