The tradition of dedicating Tuesdays to Our Holy Father St.
Dominic takes its origins right from the beginnings of the Order. The first translations of the relics of our
holy Patriarch took place on Whit-Tuesday (May 24) in the year 1233 at
Bologna. Successive Chapters from 1239
to 1282 introduced various liturgical practices into the rubrics of the Mass
and Office of the Order, as a means of fostering devotion to him. This process culminated in the act of the
Chapter of 1362, which introduced the practice of dedicating the 3rd day of the
week (Tuesday) to the holy Patriarch.
From this point forward, on every Tuesday outside of Lent, the Mass of the
day was to be his Mass, with a commemoration of him in the Office.
The specific practice of the Devotion of the 15 Tuesdays was
instituted in Florence in the year 1631.
During an occurrence of the plague that year, a Fr. Michael Bruni, of
the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria Novella, exhorted the faithful to pray
to St. Dominic, and promise to receive on Communion on 15 consecutive Tuesdays,
presumably in honor of the 15 decades of the Rosary. The success of this effort led to a rapid
spread of the 15 Tuesdays devotion. Pope
Pius VII granted an indulgence for those who availed themselves of the pious
practice in honor of St. Dominic.
This year, the devotion of the 15 Tuesdays begins on
Tuesday, April 21 and ends on Tuesday, July 28.
Even though an indulgence is no longer attached to this wonderful
devotion, we can, nonetheless, keep this beautiful tradition alive and
undertake this pious work in honor of our our holy Patriarch, St. Dominic.
O
lumen Ecclesiae
Doctor
veritatis,
Rosa
patientiae,
Ebur
castitatis,
Aquam
sapientiae
propinasti
gratis,
Praedicator
gratiae,
nos
junge beatis.
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Light
of the Church,
Teacher
of truth,
Rose
of patience,
Ivory
of chastity,
You
freely poured forth
The
waters of wisdom,
Preacher
of grace,
Unite
us with the blessed.
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