“Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give.” — The opening verse of the great Sequence hymn for Pentecost, “Veni Sancte Spiritus.” Photo & Description: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. Stained Glass Window from St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville, KY.
Read MoreA variation of the Dominican hound, seen without its torch. Stained glass detail from the sacristy of Saint Vincent Ferrer Church, New York City. Photo & Description by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.
Read More“Better to illuminate than merely to shine to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.” – St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae II-II Qu.188 a.6 Detail from the west window of St Catherine’s in New York. The dog with the torch is a symbol of the Dominican Order, whose motto is ‘Truth’. Photo & Read more…
Read MoreThe Salve Regina (“Hail, Holy Queen”) is sung every evening by Dominicans. According to tradition, the Blessed Mother prays for the security of the whole Order as Dominicans sing, “Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us.” The above excerpt is from Reflections of Dominican Spirituality: The Windows of St. Dominic Church, Read more…
Read MoreDominic is referred to as “Lumen Ecclesiae” (“Light of the Church”). The “O Lumen,” a hymn to Dominic, is sung nightly in the Dominican communities throughout the world. The above excerpt is from Reflections of Dominican Spirituality: The Windows of St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C. by Dr. Mary Moran.
Read MoreSt. Cecilia (fifth century) is honored as one of the patronesses of the Dominican Order, for it was on her feast day in 1206 that Dominic gathered the religious community in the village of Prouille, France, for the first time at the chapel. During his apostolic journeys, Dominic often visited this chapel to celebrate Mass. Read more…
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