March 31: Obit of V.B. Michael Browne, 81st Master General of the Order

Today, at Pretiosa, we make an obit of Michael Browne, deceased Master General of the Order, and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.  He died on March 31, 1971.

Cardinal Browne was born in Grangemockler, County Tipperaryin the year 1887.  He joined the Order of Preachers in in 1903.  He studied at Rockwell College, the Dominican convent at the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome, and the University of Fribourg.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1910.

In his distinguished career, he served as professor at the Angelicum, was appointed Master of the Sacred Palace (1951 – 1955) and was elected 81st Master General of the Order of Preachers on April 11, 1955.  He served as Master of the Order until 1962.  He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1962.

Compline During Lent - III Sunday of Lent to Passion Sunday

One of the unique features of the Dominican Rite of Office is the variability of much of the Office of Compline during during the seasons of Lent, Passiontide, Paschaltide, Ascensiontide, and through out the octave of Pentecost, when the hymn, Little Chapter, and responses change.

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 Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord on March 25.

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

March 20: Bl. Ambrose Sansedonius, C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we commemorate the feast of Bl. Ambrose Sansedonius, confessor of the Order of Preachers.  The ferial office of Lent is prayed, and the commemoration is made at Lauds only with the propers given in the Proper of the Saints.

From the Martyrology:

At Siena, in Tuscany, Blessed Ambrose (Sansedoni) of the Order of Friars Preachers. He was remarkable for his sanctity, preaching, and miracles. Clement VIII ordered his name to be inscribed in the Roman Martyrology.

Compline During Lent - 1st Sunday of Lent to the III Sunday of Lent

One of the unique features of the Dominican Rite of Office is the variability of much of the Office of Compline during during the seasons of Lent, Passiontide, Paschaltide, Ascensiontide, and through out the octave of Pentecost, when the hymn, Little Chapter, and responses change.

March 7: St. Thomas Aquinas, C., D., O.P., I Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, Confessor, Doctor of the Church, of the Order of Preachers.  The feast is I Class and the festive office is prayed according to the rubrics.  No commemoration of the Lenten office is made.  All is given in the Proper of the Saints.