Compline During Christmastide

One of the unique features of the Dominican Rite of Office is the variability of antiphons at Compline during various seasons and on certain feasts.  This is particularly true during the seasons of Lent, Passiontide, Paschaltide, Ascensiontide, and through out the octave of Pentecost, when the hymn, Little Chapter, and responses change.

Throughout the season of Christmas (from Christmas Day until the Epiphany, the following two (2) antiphons are used at Compline each day.

The antiphon to the Psalms is:

To us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Even though the the feasts and ferial days of this time are II Class, the Psalms of Sunday are always prayed at Compline.

The antiphon at the Nunc dimittis is:

Alleluia.  The Word became flesh, alleluia; and dwelt among us, alleluia, alleluia.

December 25: The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, I Class

℣. Puer natus est nobis.  ℟. Et filius datus est nobis.
℣. To us a child is born.  ℣. To us a son is given. (Versicle before Lauds)

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  The feast is 1^st Class, with a 2^nd Class octave.  All is taken from the Proper of the Season for this day.

December 24: Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, I Class

℣. Tomorrow the transgression of the earth will be blotted out.  ℟. And the Savior of the world will reign over us.  (Versicle before Lauds for December 24).

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  The feast is 1st Class.  At Pretiosa, we read the Martyrology for December 25:

Dominican Tertiary Indulgence Alert

Dominican Tertiaries (Lay Dominicans) are reminded that a plenary indulgence may be acquired, provided the usual conditions (confession, Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) are properly fulfilled, who make or renew, at least privately, the promise to faithfully observe the statutes of the Third Order (Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic) on the upcoming Feasts of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ on December 25.

The complete list of days when the plenary indulgence may be obtained, can be found here, at the Australian Province Website.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

18th December 1954

MEDITATIONS IN ADVENT SHOES FOR MEN

IV: Prepare ye the way

By SEBASTIAN BULLOUGH, O.P.

A voice that cries in the desert, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the dry land A highway for our God : Every valley exalted, Every mountain and hill made low, And the steep shall be turned to a level, The scree to a plain.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh together shall see it."

December 22: The Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Comm.

Happy Anniversary to the Order of Preachers!

I truly enjoy this feast.  As a member of the Order, it brings me great joy to know that I am part of a family that is nearly 800 years old, and which has been endowed by almighty God with so many holy men and women.  It is also a great joy to me that there is a specific date which serves as the birthday, so to speak, for the Order.

Traditionally, this feast was celebrated in November.  Today, it is celebrated in May.  But for a brief period of time in the early 20th Century, it was celebrated on December 22, to coincide with the anniversary of the approval of the Order by Pope Honorius III in 1216.  Personally, I like the December 22 date, and I think this is the perfect place for this feast. Our Lady was, no doubt, instrumental in the founding of this most favored of her religious orders.  The collect prayer even speaks to her role in the institution of the Order.  For me, to celebrate Our Lady's patronage over our Order and the anniversary of the founding of the Order, all during the holy season of Advent, seems like a wonderful combination.

3rd Sunday of Advent

11th December 1954

MEDITATIONS IN ADVENT

III: Rejoice in the Lord

By SEBASTIAN BULLOUGH, O.P.

Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I say, rejoice.

MID-ADVENT Sunday: Gaudete : rose-colored vestments —a color which expresses optimism, which suggests a lightening of the sombre violet of the penitential season. But why is Advent a penitential season? Why no Gloria, not even today? Because it is a time of waiting, and waiting means not having: we cannot wait for what we have, we cannot hope for what we already possess, we cannot look forward to what is present before us. But in Advent we are looking forward to the Gloria in excelsis of Christmas, the song of the angels at Bethlehem. At Christmas we shall stand in spirit amid the heavenly host, and shout for joy at the birth of the Prince of Peace. But meanwhile, liturgically, we impose upon ourselves a period of waiting for that moment, the four weeks of waiting that make the moment more joyful for the waiting.

2nd Sunday of Advent

This meditation on the 1st Sunday of Advent was written by Fr. Sebastian Bullough, O.P. (1919-1967), noted biblical scholar and professor at Cambridge in England.  It was published in The Tablet on the 1st Sunday of Advent in 1954.  It was reissued, along with the his other Advent meditations for that year, by Blackfriars Publications as a small booklet in 1955.

December 4, 1954

MEDITATIONS IN ADVENT

II. People of Sion, Behold

By SEBASTIAN BULLOUGH, O.P.

O people of Sion,

Behold thy Lord cometh

To save all the world.

O joy of thy heart

At the sound of his voice,

The voice of his glory.

THIS is the Introit of the second Sunday of Advent. It is not entirely from Isaias 30, as the Missal at first sight suggests: the first stanza is not in fact a quotation at all, but the thought and diction are in the manner of Isaias, and are the authentic thought and diction of Advent.

The call is to Sion, the faithful people, announcing that Sion's own Lord, the God of the faithful, is indeed coming to save not only Sion, but all the world. And this call is to faithful Sion a joy. Ad salvandas gentes I have deliberately translated "to save all the world." For the gentes or gentiles, the nations, the goyim of the Hebrews represented to the faithful people of Judah all those myriads of humanity who "knew not God," who knew not how to worship the Lord of all, as they did by his merciful revelation: "to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." Gradually, as the people of God became trained in the idea of worship, they became accustomed to the notion that their own God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was not merely the true God, far superior to the false gods of the nations, but was the true God of those nations also, whom the nations should equally worship. Gradually they began to realize that the ultimate fulfilment of their hopes must be in the worship of their own true God, the Lord, by all those nations, by the whole world. It was in the eighth century B.C. that the prophets Micheas (Micah) and Isaias simultaneously proclaimed this vision (Mic. 4 and Is. 2):

BREVIARIUM S.O.P. 2014 DOMINICAN RITE CALENDAR

I am pleased to announce the completion of my 2014 Dominican Rite Calendar, for praying the 1962 Dominican Breviary.  The Calendar is available from Fr. Augustine Thompson's "Dominican Liturgy Publications" at Lulu.

The calendar is based on the Dominican Rite Liturgical Calendar that Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P. prepares every year.  The format is similar to that of the Ordo published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  The calendar contains the entire liturgical year, according to the 1962 Breviarii Iuxta Ritum Ordinis Preædicatorum, updated with the most recent canonizations of Dominican saints.  

In addition, the obits of the Masters General and the anniversaries of the Order are given, as well as the list of Dominican blesseds and the day of their votive office.  Reminders are given for days when Dominican Tertiaries (Lay Dominicans) can obtain indulgences during the year.  Finally, an English translation of the Ordinary of the Office of Pretiosa is given at the end.

Each day is annotated with the feast, the rank, commemorations (if any), and reminder notes if the day includes an anniversary or the obit of a Master General of the Order.  The list of obits of the Masters General has been updated to include the Masters who have died since the last Dominican Breviary was published in 1962.  All one needs in addition to this booklet is the "Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers" and a Missal (for the Gospel of the day) and one can pray the Office of Pretiosa every day of the year.

You can purchase a copy of the calendar here, at Fr. Thompson's "Dominican Liturgy Publications" at Lulu.

December 1: Blessed John of Vercelli, C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we make a commemoration of Blessed John of Vercelli, 6^th Master General of the Order. Since today is the 1st Sunday of Advent, the feast is not celebrated.  Normally, the ferial office is prayed, and the commemoration is made at Lauds and Vespers since it is a privileged commemoration.  In addition, a second commemoration is made of SS. Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, Martyrs.  At Pretiosa, the obits of Thomas Turco of Cremona, 56th Master General of the Order and Alexander Vincent Jandel of Nancy in France, 73rd Master General of the Order are read.

1st Sunday of Advent

This meditation on the 1st Sunday of Advent was written by Fr. Sebastian Bullough, O.P. (1919-1967), noted biblical scholar and professor at Cambridge in England.  It was published in The Tablet on the 1st Sunday of Advent in 1954.  It was reissued, along with the his other Advent meditations for that year, by Blackfriars Publications as a small booklet in 1955.

I: "I Raise up My Soul" By SEBASTIAN BULLOUGH, O.P.

I raise up my soul unto thee, My Lord and my God, I trust in thee: thou wilt not fail me, My foes cannot mock me ; All who look to thee: thou wilt not fail them; Abandoned the wicked.

Show me, o Master, thy pathways, Teach me thy road, Guide me and constantly teach me, My God and my saviour.

THE Church's new year begins with this psalm at the Introit. It is the proper beginning of any human undertaking: an expression of complete trust in God. For one more year of life is indeed a big undertaking. One more year of life: each year's beginning finds us again expecting to live the year through, though we know quite well that our call may come before the year's end, yet for practical purposes we must assume that our responsibilities will cover the next twelve months. And for these responsibilities we know that we.must rely on God: "Without me you can do nothing." Merely living as a Christian in the world today is a big responsibility, and we know that without God's help we cannot fulfill it. Yet so often we forget, and in our folly rely on ourselves. How important therefore to consider once more our utter dependence on God. This is one of the functions of Advent.

Advent Begins

The holy season of Advent is upon us.  It officially begins at First Vespers today.  Personally, this is my favorite liturgical season of the year.  The more deeply I have entered into the liturgical spirituality of this season, and that of Christmas as well, the more deeply I come to appreciate and love it.

The Dominican Breviary & The Reforms Of St. Pius X

The Tablet, the Catholic weekly newspaper published in England, has been digitizing their archives of past issues.  There are many good articles to be found among these pages.  I found this article regarding the effect of St. Pius X reform of the Breviary and Psalter on the Breviarium S.O.P..

It is interesting to read this piece, which was written only three (3) years after the reforms went into effect, in the form of the 1924 Breviarium S.O.P..  The author doesn't dwell on what was lost in the revision, like Father Bonniwell does in "A History of the Dominican Liturgy"; rather he describes those characteristics and practices which distinguish the Dominican from the Roman Breviary.  Sadly, many of those characteristics, practices and feasts that did survive were gradually removed by the time the 1962 Breviarium S.O.P. was published.

The article can be found here at The Tablet website.
 

November 15: St. Albert the Great, B., C., D., O.P., II Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Albert the Great, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.  The feast is II Class and therefore contains a full set of propers for the entire office.  At Lauds, the Psalms of Sunday are prayed.

It is truly remarkable to me to think that it was not until the early 20^th Century that the Universal Church raised this saintly teacher to the altars of the Church.  Nevertheless, his sanctity and spirit are a model for all Christians, but in particular for Dominicans, given the broad scope of his erudition.

LOST FEASTS: November 13 - St. Thomas Aquinas - Patron of Catholic Schools

One year after his landmark engyclical Aeternis Patris on the philosophical and theological methods of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Leo XIII declared:

“We, for the glory of Almighty God and in honor of the Angelic Doctor, for the increase of the sciences, and for the common benefit of human society, declare by Our Supreme Authority , that St. Thomas Aquinas is Patron of Studies in Universities, Colleges, Lyceums, and Catholic Schools; and We desire that he be so held by all…” "Cum hoc sit", Brief of Leo XIII, August 4, 1880.

Beginning with the 1924 Breviarium iuxta ritum sacri ordinis praedicatorum, November 13 was the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas - Patron of Catholic Schools in the Dominican liturgical calendar. Fr. Bonniwell's "History of the Dominican Liturgy" gives no date for when exactly the Order adopted this feast. 

November 13: Anniversary of the Brothers and Sisters

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we commemorate the Anniversary of the Deceased Brothers and Sisters of our Order.  The ferial office is prayed, and at Lauds a commemoration is made of St. Brice, Bishop and Confessor.  At Pretiosa, the Anniversary is announced as follows:

The Anniversary of the Brothers and Sisters of our Order. 

At Pretiosa, Psalm 129 is prayed, per the rubrics for the day of an Anniversary.  Afterwards, the Prayer for an Anniversary is prayed.

O God, Lord of mercies, give to the souls of your servants, whose anniversary we keep, the home of refreshment, the blessedness of peace and the  brightness of light.  Through our Lord...

The Office of the Dead is also prayed, if not during the day, at least within the same week.

Being a true family, albeit a supernatural one,  the members of our Order pray for one another, just as we pray for members of our earthly families.  And just as we depend on the intercessory prayers of the Dominican Saints in heaven, so our brothers and sisters in Purgatory depend on our sufferages here on earth.  Let us remember our duty in charity to them on this special day set aside in the liturgical calendar of the Order, to offer up prayers for them.

November 12: Feast of All Saints of the Dominican Order, II Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of All Saints of the Dominican Order.  The feast is II Class and therefore contains a full set of propers.  At Lauds, the Psalms of Sunday are prayed. 

How truly humbling it is to be part of a religious Order which includes over 30 saints, 3 Doctor's of the Church, innumerable martyrs and 4 Popes.  Not only are these holy men and women, drawn from every station in life, models of sanctity for us, they are powerful intercessors for us before the heavenly throne of our loving God and Father.  The litany of the Dominican Saints can be downloaded here.

November 5: St. Martin de Pores, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Martin de Pores.  The feast is III Class, yet it contains a full set of propers as if it was a II Class feast.  At Lauds, the Psalms of Sunday are prayed. 

From the Martyrology:

At Lima in South America, [Saint] Martin de Porres, a tertiary of the Order of Preachers. Having pronounced his solemn vows to God, he united integrity of life so perfectly with the most severe penances, that both before and after death he merited to become famous for his miracles.

LOST FEASTS: October 31 - Commemoration of the Holy Relics

One of the great tragedies of the 20th century liturgical changes was the "Romanization" of the Dominican calendar that occurred in the revision of 1960, and which is codified in the calendar of the 1962 Breviarium iuxta ritum sacri ordinis praedicatorum.  Many unique Dominican feasts were removed from the liturgical calendar of the Order, including those of many Dominican blessed's and many other feasts that were particular to the Dominican Order.One such feast was the Feast of the Holy Relics.  

Relics of St. Thomas Aquinas at the Church of the Jacobins,

Toulouse, France.

First Vespers in the Dominican Rite - The Responsory

This is the second post on the differences between the Dominican and Roman Breviaries.  In a previous post, we talked about the Psalms used for 1st Vespers for a 1st Class feast.  Another difference between the Dominican and Roman Breviary is the responsory after the Little Chapter at 1st Vespers.

First Vespers for the Feast of St. Dominic (Breviarium S.O.P., 1962)

2014 Dominican Rite Calendar Available

Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., has published his annual Dominican Rite Calendar for 2014.  

"His calendar "includes the feasts on the Dominican General Calendar as it was in 1962, those Dominican saints canonized since 1962 and placed on the calendar by the General Chapters from 1962 to 2013, as well as saints and blesseds placed on the calendar of dioceses of the United States.

Included in appendices are particular feasts of the dioceses where houses of the Western Dominican Province are located, and a list of the "minor" Dominican blesseds, who are usually only celebrated in certain provinces.  For those not using the 1965 Missal, page references are given for the 1933 Missal and the 1939 Traveling Missal, for feasts moved in 1960 or lacking".

We thank Father Thompson for taking the time to create this calendar every year!  You can download his calendar here.

October 9: St. Louis Bertrand, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Saint Louis Bertrand, confessor of the Order of Preachers.  His feast is III Class, and there is a commemoration of Ss. Denis, Bishop, and companions at Lauds only.

October 7: The Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary, I Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary.  The feast is I Class in the calendar of the Order.  At First Vespers this year, since the feast falls on a Monday, a commemoration is made of the 20th Sunday after Pentecost.  Traditionally, Dominican Tertiaries would fast on the vigil of this great feast.  However, since the vigil falls on a Sunday this year, the fast would be dispensed.

From the Dominican Breviary (antiphon to the Psalms at First Vespers):

This is the Queen of virgins, the virgin, beautiful as a rose, who bore the king.  Mother of God, through whom we gain God and man, gracious Virgin, intercede for us all.

From the "The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers" (Tr. by Rev. W. R. Bonniwell, O. P., The Newman Press - Westminster, Maryland, 1955):

October 5: Bl. Raymond of Capua, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Raymond of Capua, confessor of the Order of Preachers.  The feast is III Class, and since it falls on a Saturday, a  commemoration is made of the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lauds only.

From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):

Announcements

A few announcements to our readers:

Truly wonderful news from the Province of St. Joseph (Eastern United States).  They are in the process of publishing the Hymnarium O.P., a collection of traditional Dominican Hymns from the Divine Office.  This looks like a magnificent project, which is nearing completion.  The Latin texts are taken from the 1952 Breviarium iuxta ritum sacri ordinis praedicatorum and the English texts are from the 1967 English translation of the 1962 Breviarium iuxta ritum sacri ordinis praedicatorum.  The Province has set up a website here, where you can find more information about the forthcoming edition, as well as audio samples of the hymns being chanted.

Also, for anyone who is in the vicinity of the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in NYC, the Master General of the Order of Preachers, Fr. Bruno Cadore, O.P., will be offering the 10:30 AM Mass on Saturday, October 5, 2013 for the Feast of Bl. Raymond of Capua.  The Mass will be in the Ordinary Form.

Lastly, for those on the West Coast of the United States, Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P. of the Dominican Liturgy Blog has posted Mass times for Dominican Rite Masses in the Western Province. They can be found here.

Dominican Tertiary Indulgence Alert

Dominican Tertiaries (Lay Dominicans) are reminded that a plenary indulgence may be acquired, provided the usual conditions (confession, Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) are properly fulfilled, who make or renew, at least privately, the promise to faithfully observe the statutes of the Third Order (Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic) on the upcoming Feasts of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.

The complete list of days when the plenary indulgence may be obtained, can be found here, at the Australian Province Website.

September 20: Blessed Francis de Posadas, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Francis Possadas, confessor of the Order of Preachers.  The feast is III Class, but this year it falls on Ember Friday in September, so a commemoration is made of his feast at Lauds only.

September 18: St. John Massias, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Saint John Massias, a lay brother of the Order of Preachers.  The feast is III Class, but this year it falls on Ember Wednesday in September, so a commemoration is made of his feast at Lauds only

September 10: Blessed Alphonsus Navarrete, O.P., and Companions, Mm., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Alfonso Navarrete and Companions.  A commemoration is made of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor.  The lesson at Matins describes the heroic virtue of these martyrs of Japan.  The Dominicans made up a large contingent of those who were killed.  Also represented were the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Augustinians.

September 9: Obit V.B. Thomas de Vio, Cajetan, 38th Master General of the Order

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, at Pretiosa we make a commemoration of the 38th Master General of the Order, Thomas de Vio, Cajetan, who was a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. 

Cajetan is one of the most famous of all the Masters General in the history of the Dominican Order.  

September 6: Blessed Bertrand of Garrigue, C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we make a commemoration of Blessed Bertrand of Garrigua, Confessor, of the Order of Preachers.  Since today is a ferial day, the ferial office is prayed, and a commemoration is made of Bl. Bertrand at Lauds only.
From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):

September 5: Anniversary of the Associates and Benefactors of our Order

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we commemorate the Anniversary of the Deceased Associates and Benefactors of our Order.  At Pretiosa today, the Anniversary is announced as follows:

The Anniversary of the deceased friends and benefactors of our Order. 

At Pretiosa, Psalm 129 is prayed, as it always is on the day of an Anniversary.  Afterwards, the Prayer for an Anniversary is prayed.  The Office of the Dead is also prayed, if not during the day, at least within the same week.

August 30: St. Rose of Lima, V, O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Rose of Lima.  The feast is III Class, yet it contains the full propers of a II Class feast.  At Lauds, the Psalms of Sunday are prayed.

From the Martyrology:

At Lima in Peru, St. Rose, virgin, of the Third Order of our holy Father St. Dominic. The Roman Pontiff Clement IX called her "the first flower from the Western World." At the age of five she took the vow of virginity; later she was received by Christ in a miraculous way as His spouse. She added the most severe penances to a life of purest innocence and her fame spread because of her many miracles. She died on August 24.

August 28: St. Augustine, B., C., D., II Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Augustine, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor, and Father of the Church.  A III feast in the Roman Rite, the feast is II Class in the Dominican calendar with its own propers.  This is due to the Order’s association with the Doctor of Grace via the Rule of St. Augustine, which our Holy Father adopted as the Rule for his Order in 1216. 

First Vespers in the Dominican Rite - The Laudate Psalms and Super Psalmos Antiphon

One of the ways in which the Dominican Breviary is distinguished from the Roman Breviary is the Office of First Vespers.  Upon a cursory examination of the Ordinary, or the Paslter, one would be hard pressed to find any difference at all.  But there are indeed differences, and they become clear when 1st Vespers is prayed for a I Class Feast.

August 17: St. Hyacinth, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Hyacinth.  The feast is III Class and a commemoration is made at Lauds of the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

From the Martyrology:

At Cracow in Poland, St. Hyacinth, confessor, of the Order of Preachers. Having received the religious habit from the hands of our Father St. Dominic, he excelled in learning and in a life of admirable innocence. He was celebrated for the glory of his miracles, especially for walking dryshod across wide rivers. Thought deserving of sweet converse with the holy Mother of God, distinguished for his spotless life, and filled with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, he died at an advanced age. He was called to his eternal reward on the very feastday of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was canonized by Pope Clement VIII.

August 8: Blessed Jane of Aza, Mother of Our Holy Father St. Dominic, Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we make a commemoration of Blessed Jane of Aza, mother of Our Holy Father St. Dominic. The ferial office is prayed, and the commemoration is made at Lauds and Vespers since it is a privileged commemoration.  In addition, a second commemoration is made of SS. Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, Martyrs.  At Pretiosa, the obit of Hugh de Vaucemain of France, sixteenth Master General of the Order of Preachers is read.

From the Martyrology:

August 4: Our Holy Father St. Dominic, C., O.P., I Class

O happy parent, Spain, rejoice in giving to the world the joy of new offspring!  But, rejoice still more, Bologna, because you are favored with the glory of so great a father.  O universal Mother Church, sing in praise as you celebrate the festival of this new source of fame!  (Super psalmos antiphon to the Laudate psalms at First Vespers.)

Dominican Tertiary Indulgence Alert!

Dominican Tertiaries are reminded that a plenary indulgence may be acquired, provided the usual conditions (confession, Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) are properly fulfilled, who make or renew, at least privately, the promise to faithfully observe the statutes of the Third Order (Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic) on the upcoming Feasts of Our Holy Father St. Dominic on August 4th (if you are attending a Dominican Rite Mass) or August 8 (if you are attending a Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite), as well as on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15.

The complete list of days when the plenary indulgence may be obtained, can be found here, at the Australian Province Website.

Jul 30: Bl. Mannes, C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we make a commemoration of Blessed Mannes, Confessor, of the Order of Preachers.  Since today is a ferial day, the ferial office is prayed, and a commemoration is made of Bl. Manes at Lauds only.  In addition, a commemoration is made at Lauds of Ss. Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs.

July 22: St. Mary Magdalen, Protectress of the Order, III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalen, Protectress of the Order.  Though her feast is III Class in the calendar, her office has a complete set of propers as though the feast was actually a II Class feast.  The Benedictus antiphon is particularly beautiful:

O lamp of the world and gleaming pearl, who by announcing Christ’s resurrection merited to become the Apostle of the Apostles, Mary Magdalen, be ever our loving advocate with God who has chosen you.

July 17: Bl. Ceslaus, C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we make a commemoration of Blessed Ceslaus, Confessor, of the Order of Preachers.  Since today is a ferial day, the ferial office is prayed, and a commemoration is made of Bl. Ceslaus at Lauds only.

As the website for the Order of Preachers reported, this May, families in Wrocław took turns hosting an icon of Bessed Ceslaus - the patron saint of their town, in their homes.  The pilgrimage of the image which started on the 20th of February was approved by the Wrocław Metropolitan Archbishop.From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):

Breviarium S.O.P. Blog Poll

This blog has only been publishing on the internet since April of this year, yet we get visitors from all over the world! (United States, Russia, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Italy, Belgium, China, Spain and Australia).  Welcome all!

Who are you?  Are you associated with the Dominican Order in any way?  Do you pray the Dominican Breviary?  If so, which one (the 1962 Latin edition or the 1967 English edition)?  Or do you pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the Dominican Supplement?

I myself started with the Roman Breviary in 2005.  Specifically, the abbreviated Office (Prime and Compline) available from Angelus Press.  A dear friend introduced me to the full Roman Breviary in 2008, and I began praying primarily Lauds and Compline.  On occasion, I would pray Vesper and Matins.  In 2011, that same dear friend gave me his 2-volume Dominican Breviary (St. Saviour's, 1967), and I have been praying it faithfully ever since.  In early 2012, thanks once again to that same dear friend and some very generous and helpful Dominican Nuns, I obtained my copy of the 1962 Breviarium Juxta Ritum Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum.  The primary hours I pray are Lauds and Compline.  That fits my busy work schedule.  Occasionally, on the weekend, I can pray Vespers.

I have recently translated the "office" of Pretiosa, which is in the 1962 Breviarium Juxta Ritum Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum, but does not appear in the 1967 Dominican Breviary.  That translation, along with my recently obtained copy of the “Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers” (W. Bonniwell, O.P., tran., Newman Press, 1955) allows me to pray Pretiosa immediately after Lauds.  Briefly, Pretiosa is the last half of the hour of Prime, but modified.  It includes the martyrology, the commemorations of the deceased Masters General and the anniversaries of the dead.  I am planning a couple of posts on Pretiosa, and will be posting my translation of this beautiful hour soon for anyone who is interested in praying it.

Please feel free to use the comment box and let me know who is looking at this blog!  Anonymous posts are welcome.  Thanks.

July 14: Obit V.B. Humbert de Romans, 5th Master General of the Order

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, at Pretiosa we make a commemoration of the 5th Master General of the Order, Humbert de Romans.


No single person, in the history of the Dominican Order, is so closely linked to the Dominican Rite of Mass and Office as the 5th Master General, Humbert of Romans.  Though all of the Masters General, after out Holy Father St. Dominic, had a hand in completing the project of securing a universal Mass and Office for the Order, it was during Humbert's Master Generalship that the liturgical books were formally accepted and the project brought to completion.


Very little is actually recorded about the process of adopting and revising the various editions of the Missal and Breviary, and what changes were sought by whom.  In his book on the history of the Dominican Liturgy, Fr. William Bonniwell, O.P., notes that "Not only are we hampered by a dearth of liturgical books, but even the historians and authors of that period seem to have entered into a conspiracy of silence regarding the history of the rite, so that we have only the scantiest materials with which to reconstruct the first two-score years of Dominican liturgical history (pp. 18-19).  He gives, as a possible reason for this silence, "the disturbance which the question [of the universal liturgical books] had caused the Order for over a quarter of a century."

During these days of liturgical banality, in which our Order has abandoned the very Rite of Mass and Office that it once so fiercely defended, may the prayers of the holy and blessed 5th Master General obtain for us a return to our glorious liturgical patrimony.

July 13: Bl. James of Voragine, B., C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we make a commemoration of Blesssed James of Voragine, Bishop, Confessor, of the Order of Preachers.  Since today is a ferial day, the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday is prayed.  A commemoration is made of Bl. James of Voragine at Lauds only.  The collect prayer for this holy bishop speaks of his love for peace and truth.  In these days where there is very little peace, whether between nations, peoples, citizens of the same country, members of Holy Mother Church, and even within families, due so often to a lack of knowledge of, or regard for, Truth, may this holy Dominican bishop pray for us and our deplorable times.

Blessed James is the author of the famous "Golden Legend", a medieval manuscript of saints’ lives that was extremely popular in the Middle Ages.  From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):

BLESSED JAMES was born in the little village of Voragine, also called Varazzo, not far from Genoa. He entered the Order of Saint Dominic at the early age of fourteen, and devoted himself to the acquisition alike of learning and of sanctity, making marvelous progress in both. After teaching theology in various places, he was sent to preach throughout Northern Italy. Such was his eloquence and such the purity with which he spoke his mother tongue, that he took his place at once in the foremost rank of Italian orators. He was the first to translate the Bible into Italian; and he wrote several works, in particular a large and valuable book of sermons, a treatise in praise of our Blessed Lady, to whom he bore a tender devotion, and a collection of Lives of the Saints, known as the "Golden Legend," which became the most popular book of spiritual reading in the Middle Ages. It was translated into various languages, and was perhaps more widely diffused than any other work before the invention of printing.

He became Prior of the Convent of Genoa, and when only thirty-seven was elected Provincial of Lombardy. His appointment to this important post, whilst still so young, created some surprise throughout the Order, but when the Friars became witnesses of his benevolence and charity, and of the blessings which his wise and saintly administration drew down upon the Houses committed to his charge, this feeling of surprise was exchanged for one of admiration and gratitude, and he continued to hold the office for the then unprecedented period of nineteen years. In the year 1288, Pope Honorius IV entrusted to him the delicate task of absolving the city of Genoa, in his name, from the censures and the interdict which it had incurred. Blessed James discharged this mission with such prudence and tact as to win all hearts, and not long afterwards the Cathedral Chapter unanimously elected him as Archbishop.

Genoa was at this time in a very distracted state, torn by the rival factions of the Guelphs and Ghibellines, the scene of horrible murders and civil war. The saintly Archbishop succeeded in re-establishing peace and order. He showed himself to be truly the father of his people, sparing no labor on their behalf, and stripping himself of everything in his boundless liberality to the poor. He also bestowed munificent benefactions on the hospitals, convents, and churches of his diocese. The Crusaders had brought back with them, after the capture of Constantinople in 1203, a great quantity of holy relics. A portion of those which had fallen to the share of Venice passed into the possession of the Genoese, together with a considerable piece of the True Cross. The pious Archbishop succeeded in obtaining them, and deposited them in the Dominican Church in Genoa, under two tables which he plated with silver.

All through his life, Blessed James had made it his study to acquire interior peace, and his soul had become, according to the testimony of his contemporaries, a perfect mirror of the happiness of heaven. After eight years spent in governing his flock with such wisdom and success that most of the Bishops of Northern Italy took him for their counselor and model, and adopted his statutes for the reformation of their clergy, the saintly Archbishop of Genoa gently fell asleep in the Lord in the July of the year 1298. His body was laid under the high altar of the Church of Saint Dominic in Genoa, where it received the veneration of the faithful until A.D. 1798, when it was translated to the Church of the Friars Preachers at Santa Maria di Castello. A fresh and very solemn translation took place in the year 1885.  Blessed James was beatified by Pius VII., A.D. 1816.

Prayer

O God, you rendered your blessed confessor and bishop, James, a glorious herald of truth and an effective peacemaker; grant us, at his intercession, to love both peace and truth, and to reach you in whom peace is most perfect, and truth most pure.  Through Our Lord...

July 11: Ss. Ignatius and Dominic, Bb, O.P., and Companions, Mm., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Ss. Ignatius and Dominic, Bishops, and their Companions, Martyrs.  From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):

Of the glorious band of seventy-seven martyrs beatified by Pope Leo XIII. on May 27, in the holy year of Jubilee, 1900, twenty-six are assigned in the Apostolic Brief to the Order of Preachers, nineteen by actual profession, and the remaining seven by their connection with the Dominican mission of Eastern Tonquin. They are often spoken of as the Martyrs of the Annamite Church, the name of Annam having been formerly applied to a larger extent of country than at the present day; and they suffered in the persecution which raged during the years 1838, 1839, and 1840.

The leaders of the heroic company were two Dominican prelates, Blessed Ignatius Delgado, Bishop of Melipotamus and Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Tonquin, and his coadjutor, Blessed Dominic Henares, Bishop of Fesseita and Pro-Vicar Apostolic of the same district. Both were Spaniards by birth, and both had laboured in Tonquin for nearly half a century, having arrived there in 1790 and been invested with the Episcopal dignity shortly afterwards. At the outbreak of the persecution in 1838, the two venerable prelates were on the point of concealing themselves in a large cavern which had been arranged as a hiding-place, when they were betrayed into the hands of the soldiers who had been sent in search of them. Blessed Dominic managed on that occasion to escape; but Blessed Ignatius, who was very infirm, was seized and carried away in a cage, which was so small that it was impossible for him to stand upright in it. On approaching the city of Nam-Dinh, where a great concourse of people awaited his arrival, he beheld a crucifix laid across the entrance to be trampled on by all who passed through the gates. Pierced with grief at the sight, he insisted so earnestly on its removal that he was obeyed; but, as soon as his cage had been borne into the city, the sacred image was replaced on the ground, so that the faithful who were following their Bishop in great numbers on his way of sorrows were unable to enter.

Meanwhile Blessed Dominic had also been captured and imprisoned in a cage; and he was now brought, together with his faithful catechist, Blessed Francis Chien or Chieu, to the same city. For a few moments the two holy Bishops and the Blessed Father Joseph Fernandez, Vicar-Provincial of the Order in Tonquin, who had also been seized, were confronted with each other and able to exchange a few words in their native tongue. Blessed Dominic and his catechist were the first to suffer martyrdom, being beheaded June 25, 1838. On the following July 12, Blessed Ignatius died in his cage of hunger and thirst and exposure to the rays of a burning sun. The inhuman governor caused the sentence of decapitation, which had already been pronounced on the venerable old man, to be executed on his lifeless body.

There suffered also in this same persecution eight native priests of the Order, who appear to have made their noviciate in the Philippine Islands, and eight devout Tertiaries, of whom four were catechists, one was a doctor, another a tailor, and two were peasants. Faithful to their vocation, these holy members of the Third Order whilst in prison converted and baptized a hundred of their fellow-captives. Some of these native martyrs were subjected to the most horrible torments that oriental cruelty could devise; and one of the catechists, the Blessed Thomas Toan, naturally of a weak and irresolute character, when put to the torture, twice renounced the faith, and twice returned to it. After his second apostasy his remorse bordered on despair; but happily for him, there was in the same prison a priest (probably the Blessed Joseph Hien, O.P., afterwards a martyr) who consoled and absolved him. From that moment Blessed Thomas was filled with heroic courage, and at every fresh insult and torment did but repeat: "I have sinned against my God; He has forgiven me; henceforth I must be for ever faithful to Him." He was starved to death in prison, passing to his reward June 27, 1840.

To these we must add three native secular priests belonging to the Vicariate and three soldiers. The soldiers, after having courageously undergone many sufferings for the faith for the space of a whole year, at length miserably consented to trample on the cross. There are some grounds for believing that they were not wholly responsible for the act, which was committed, so it is said, under the influence of a potion which had been administered to them. Be this as it may, the poor men were broken-hearted when they realised what they had done; and, as the governor refused to accept their retractation, two of them made their way to the king at Hue, boldly declared themselves to be Christians, and by his command were sawn asunder on board a ship. The third, who was too ill to travel, sent a written retractation by the hands of his comrades, and by the royal orders was strangled.

Prayer

O

 God, you willed he lands of the Annam to be moistened by the  blood of the blessed bishops, Ignatius and Dominic, and their companions; through the pleadings of these great martyrs let it blossom with the Christian religion.  Through Our Lord… 

Dominican Breviary Downloads

I have added a download bar on the right side of the blog page.  It contains some materials that may be interesting to anyone who prays the Dominican Breviary, or offers the Dominican Rite Mass.  I have created a primitive Dominican Rite Calendar, which is helpful for praying the Office.  It is based on the Dominican Rite Calendar that Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P. creates every year, and puts up on his Dominican Liturgy blog.  His calendar is modified slightly from the 1962 calendar in that the Dominican Blessed's who have been canonized are moved to their new feast days.  For my calendar, I add in notes that are useful for praying the Breviary.  I hope to have a better calendar available for 2014.

I have also put up a copy of the calendar from the 1909 Breviarium S.O.P..  This was the last Dominican Breviary before the reforms of St. Pius X went into effect.  It contains many feast of Our Lord and our Lady which were removed after the reforms, as well as may Dominican Feasts (and octaves) that were removed as well.  Enjoy!