Tuesday, March 31, 2015

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 Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 5.

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

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

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.

Monday, March 23, 2015

The Ferial Office During Passiontide

We are now in the final two (2) weeks of Lent, which the Church has traditionally referred to as Passiontide.  The rubrics of the Office change once again, and take on an even more solemn tone.  With the exception of the Feast of the Annunciation this week, we will be praying the ferial office of Passiontide every day.  III Class feasts of the saints are reduced to a commemoration at Lauds and Vespers.

April and May are right around the corner, and they are truly spectacular months for those of us who pray the Dominican Breviary. April contains the feasts of St. Vincent Ferrer (April 5), Our Lord's Most Holy Crown of Thorns (April 24), St. Agnes of Montepulciano (April 20), St. Louis de Montfort (April 28), St. Peter Martyr (April 29) and St. Catherine of Siena (April 30).  May starts off with St. Pius V (May 5).  Then we have the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mediatrix of All Graces (May 8), St. Antonius (May 10) , Blessed Imelda (May 13), the Transfer of Our Holy Father St. Dominic (May 24), and finally Bl. William and his Companions (May 29).  Of course, not all of these feasts will be celebrated this year, since a few of them are impeded by the glorious feast days associated with Easter and Pentecost, however we can still avail ourselves of the beautiful collect prayers at some time during that day, to ask the Lord to hear the prayers of these wonderful Dominican saints on our behalf.  

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Compline During Lent - Passion Sunday to Holy Thursday

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.

Friday, March 20, 2015

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.

Monday, March 9, 2015

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.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

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.