National Review: Eight Hundred Years and Tweeting
Detail of Saint Dominic of Guzmán by Claudio Coello (Museo Nacional del Prado)
“From the 13th century, the Dominican order lives.
On Saturday morning, #OP800 started trending on Twitter. Throughout the world, people were tweeting birthday wishes to the Dominicans, known as the “Order of Preachers,” the Catholic religious order founded by St. Dominic 800 years ago on the opening of their jubilee year of celebration. The tweeting began on the 800th minute of the day in Rome, 7:20 a.m. on the east coast.
As a longtime friend of the Dominicans, I wasn’t going to miss the once in 800 year event. (I’m a graduate of Dominican Academy in Manhattan and inventor and incessant Twitter promoter of the #OPPower hashtag. Seeing them in their black and white habits processing into the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception adjacent to the Catholic University of America for the Vigil for Life before the annual March for Life one year, I was inspired.) For anyone who has ever heard the compelling preaching, joined in the fervent prayer, or watched their joyful engagement in the streets of New York or Washington, D.C. (a surprise on a subway, for sure, for many), it is a welcome jubilee.”
The Dominican Foundation of Dominican Friars Province of St. Joseph, Inc. is a NY State tax-exempt corporation under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with
Tax ID # 26-3273636.