As our readers know, the Dominican Sisters of
Wanganui have recently celebrated their 10th anniversary, but few people know
that there have been traditional Dominicans here in Wanganui for longer than
this—in fact nearly twenty years. In 1996, a year before Mother Micaela’s
arrival in Wanganui, Fr Gentili, as parish priest, was delegated by the Dominican
Friars of Avrille to receive the profession of Sister Mary Jacinta, the first
traditional Dominican Tertiary of St Anthony’s parish.
Wanganui have recently celebrated their 10th anniversary, but few people know
that there have been traditional Dominicans here in Wanganui for longer than
this—in fact nearly twenty years. In 1996, a year before Mother Micaela’s
arrival in Wanganui, Fr Gentili, as parish priest, was delegated by the Dominican
Friars of Avrille to receive the profession of Sister Mary Jacinta, the first
traditional Dominican Tertiary of St Anthony’s parish.
Sister Mary Jacinta, and now several others, are members of the “Third Order of Penance,” which numbers in its
ranks many famous Dominicans, from St Catherine ofSiena
and St Louis de Montfort to St Rose ofLima
and St Martin de Porres.
ranks many famous Dominicans, from St Catherine of
and St Louis de Montfort to St Rose of
and St Martin de Porres.
While these famous four were vowed to chastity, many
Tertiaries are married; the Third Order was established by St Dominic for lay
people living in the world, who yet wished to participate in the apostolate of
his friars by their prayers and by any material or apostolic help they could
give. At first, for the men, this involved fighting in defence of the Church
and its property against Albigensian heretics, but later Tertiaries were more
often involved in corporal and spiritual works of mercy, like Blessed Albert of
Villa d’Ogna (d. 1279), a peasant who begged from door to door for alms for the
sick and poor and eventually built a hospice for their care. Blessed Jordan of
Saxony, the second Master General after St Dominic, was very active in encouraging
vocations to this as well as the first Order (the Friars), and defended the Tertiaries’
rights as true Dominicans when many Friars thought they were more trouble than
they were worth!
Tertiaries are married; the Third Order was established by St Dominic for lay
people living in the world, who yet wished to participate in the apostolate of
his friars by their prayers and by any material or apostolic help they could
give. At first, for the men, this involved fighting in defence of the Church
and its property against Albigensian heretics, but later Tertiaries were more
often involved in corporal and spiritual works of mercy, like Blessed Albert of
Villa d’Ogna (d. 1279), a peasant who begged from door to door for alms for the
sick and poor and eventually built a hospice for their care. Blessed Jordan of
Saxony, the second Master General after St Dominic, was very active in encouraging
vocations to this as well as the first Order (the Friars), and defended the Tertiaries’
rights as true Dominicans when many Friars thought they were more trouble than
they were worth!
THE END OF THE ORDER
“The end of the Third Order is
the sanctification of its own members by the practice of a more perfect
Christian life and the promotion of the salvation of souls in a way that is
suitable to the state of the faithful living in the world.”
As members of the Dominican Order, the Tertiaries
are supported by the prayers and merits of all its members, and their prayers
and penance in turn benefit the preaching work of the Friars, the teaching work
of the Sisters, and the sanctification of all the members, which is the primary
purpose of any religious order. They wear the scapular, the principal part of
our habit given us by Our Lady herself, and share in the special patronage it
symbolises, whereby she is our “shade from the heat, and from all dangers of
body as well as of soul, in the hour of death, a bulwark and defence.” Once a
month, they meet to pray together, to receive a short instruction on the rule
or the Dominican spirit, and, if they are erected into a fraternity, to receive
absolution for their faults against the rule. The rule itself organises their
prayers, sacrifices and apostolate in a way that has stood the test of time and
led many souls to heaven. No wonder that Pope Benedict XV said, “Among the
means of holiness most useful and opportune for the defence and progress of
Christian faith and morals in our day, we recognize the Dominican Third Order
as one of the most eminent, easy, and secure.”
are supported by the prayers and merits of all its members, and their prayers
and penance in turn benefit the preaching work of the Friars, the teaching work
of the Sisters, and the sanctification of all the members, which is the primary
purpose of any religious order. They wear the scapular, the principal part of
our habit given us by Our Lady herself, and share in the special patronage it
symbolises, whereby she is our “shade from the heat, and from all dangers of
body as well as of soul, in the hour of death, a bulwark and defence.” Once a
month, they meet to pray together, to receive a short instruction on the rule
or the Dominican spirit, and, if they are erected into a fraternity, to receive
absolution for their faults against the rule. The rule itself organises their
prayers, sacrifices and apostolate in a way that has stood the test of time and
led many souls to heaven. No wonder that Pope Benedict XV said, “Among the
means of holiness most useful and opportune for the defence and progress of
Christian faith and morals in our day, we recognize the Dominican Third Order
as one of the most eminent, easy, and secure.”
THE MEANS TO OBTAIN THE END: PRAYER
“The means
of obtaining this end, over and above the common precepts and duties of one’s
state in life, are: the observance of this Rule, continual prayer, and as far as
possible, liturgical prayer…”
of obtaining this end, over and above the common precepts and duties of one’s
state in life, are: the observance of this Rule, continual prayer, and as far as
possible, liturgical prayer…”
As sharers in our motto of “Contemplari et
contemplata tradere,” “To contemplate and hand on the fruits of their contemplation,”
the Tertiaries’ first duty is to contemplate eternal truths. Priest-Tertiaries,
like St Louis de Montfort, do this by their recitation of the breviary, the
Divine Office, but other Tertiaries share in the official prayer of the Church
through either:
contemplata tradere,” “To contemplate and hand on the fruits of their contemplation,”
the Tertiaries’ first duty is to contemplate eternal truths. Priest-Tertiaries,
like St Louis de Montfort, do this by their recitation of the breviary, the
Divine Office, but other Tertiaries share in the official prayer of the Church
through either:
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The Little Office of Our
Lady
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OR
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The 15 Mysteries of the Rosary The Paternoster Office. |
To give them more time to assimilate the rich
food contained in the Psalms or the mysteries of the Rosary, the Tertiaries
have 15 minutes of mental prayer every day. Finally, they share in our special
devotion for the souls in Purgatory by reciting the De Profundis for departed
members, family and benefactors of the order.
food contained in the Psalms or the mysteries of the Rosary, the Tertiaries
have 15 minutes of mental prayer every day. Finally, they share in our special
devotion for the souls in Purgatory by reciting the De Profundis for departed
members, family and benefactors of the order.
 |
|
Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Dominican Tertiary
|
PENANCE
“…the practice of penance…”
Like St Dominic, who disciplined himself every
night for his own sins and those of others, the members of the “Third order of
Penance” strive to mortify themselves and make hearty reparation for all
offences against God. While modern Tertiaries are dispensed from many of the
more difficult prescriptions of the ancient rule, they adhere to its spirit
through fasting on Fridays throughout the year and on certain vigils, by
avoiding worldly amusements and vanity in dress, and by other penances as
recommended by their confessor.
night for his own sins and those of others, the members of the “Third order of
Penance” strive to mortify themselves and make hearty reparation for all
offences against God. While modern Tertiaries are dispensed from many of the
more difficult prescriptions of the ancient rule, they adhere to its spirit
through fasting on Fridays throughout the year and on certain vigils, by
avoiding worldly amusements and vanity in dress, and by other penances as
recommended by their confessor.
APOSTOLATE
“Mindful
of the traditions of our ancestors, Tertiaries should labour in behalf of the
truth of the Catholic Faith and for the Church and the Pope, in word and deed,
showing themselves to be ardent defenders of their rights in all things and at
all times.”
The Tertiaries in Wanganui accomplish the
second half of their motto, “contemplata tradere,” by helping in various ways around
the parish; some are members of the Legion of Mary, which is excellent for
directing one’s practice of the spiritual and, to a certain extent, the
corporal works of mercy. They may help in any parish or Dominican apostolate;
the constitutions especially suggest the teaching of catechism. Not everyone is
called to advise the Pope like St Catherine or to nurse the sick poor in the
backyard like St Rose ofLima
but all should do what they can to “devote
their lives to the glory of God and the salvation of their neighbour in an
ardent and generous spirit.”
second half of their motto, “contemplata tradere,” by helping in various ways around
the parish; some are members of the Legion of Mary, which is excellent for
directing one’s practice of the spiritual and, to a certain extent, the
corporal works of mercy. They may help in any parish or Dominican apostolate;
the constitutions especially suggest the teaching of catechism. Not everyone is
called to advise the Pope like St Catherine or to nurse the sick poor in the
backyard like St Rose of
but all should do what they can to “devote
their lives to the glory of God and the salvation of their neighbour in an
ardent and generous spirit.”
While it is helpful in the practice of the
rule to have an established “fraternity,” or community of Tertiaries, for support, it is
possible to become a Dominican tertiary no matter where you are, and the
spiritual benefits are incalculable. We are happy to give any
information we can and encourage vocations, for as Pope Pius XII said:
rule to have an established “fraternity,” or community of Tertiaries, for support, it is
possible to become a Dominican tertiary no matter where you are, and the
spiritual benefits are incalculable. We are happy to give any
information we can and encourage vocations, for as Pope Pius XII said:
“We hope that the ranks of the Third Order
will gather numerous young men and women who, without having a religious
vocation, aspire to a more perfect Christian life, who aspire to make a more
complete gift of themselves” and thus sanctify their own souls and countless
others.
will gather numerous young men and women who, without having a religious
vocation, aspire to a more perfect Christian life, who aspire to make a more
complete gift of themselves” and thus sanctify their own souls and countless
others.
 |
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| Tertiaries of Wanganui: From left: Sr Mary Rosaria t.o.p., Sr Mary Anthanasius, Sr Mary Jacinta t.o.p., Sr Mary Lucy, Sr Mary Philomena, Br Guy Dominic t.o.p.
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For
more information you may contact the Dominican Sisters (if you are inNew Zealand or Australia) or alternatively, you can write to:
more information you may contact the Dominican Sisters (if you are in
Father
Angelico O.P.
Angelico O.P.
The
Fraternity of Saint Dominic
Friary
of La Haye aux Bonshommes
49240 AVRILLE
FRANCE
of La Haye aux Bonshommes
49240 AVRILLE
All quotes in italics from the Constitutions of the Third Order of Penance of Saint Dominic.
Ven. Fulton Sheen is not a Dominican Tertiary. He is Third Order of Carmelites. His cause for canonization is being promoted by the Vice Postulation of Carmel in Ireland.