The Order of Preachers

The Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum), more commonly known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic de Guzman in the early 13th century in France. The Order has a variety of branches which includes the friars (priests and lay brothers), cloistered nuns, apostolic sisters, and lay dominican groups. Although founded to to combat the Albigensian heresy, the friars of the Order quickly became known for the quality and efficacy of their preaching resulting from their commitment to study, prayer and search for truth (Veritas).

Governance

"The Order of Friars Preachers, which is ruled by a general chapter and the Master of the Order, is made up of provinces, each of which is ruled by a provincial chapter and the prior provincial. Each province is made up of convents and houses, which are governed by a prior or superior" (LCO 252). Timothy Radcliffe, OP, former Master of the Order writes, "Fundamental to the life of the brethren is that we gather in Chapter [essentially, in meetings], whether conventual, provincial or general, to take decisions about our life and mission". These decisions are said to be made in a democratic process because the brothers in Chapter engage in "debate leading to voting". What is Dominican about this kind of ‘democracy' is that it is primarily concerned with "the needs of the mission" rather than the will of the majority: "our democracy is only Dominican if our debating and voting is an attempt to hear the Word of God summoning us to walk in the way of discipleship".

The Order of Preachers Today

With over 4000 friars in 70 countries throughout the world, Dominican friars continue the Dominican legacy of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever needed, with a marked preference for the frontiers of the Church and culture. Over the 800 years since our founding, the Order has produced a number of influential theologians and philosophers, the most well known being St. Thomas Aquinas. Our common life of prayer, community and study create the foundation for our preaching and service to the Church and the People of God.