Greetings, readers! This is just to let you know that the Dominican Rite Calendar for 2026 is now available for download on our left side bar or directly here.
This calendar is specifically prepared for those saying Mass in the traditional Dominican Rite in the United States, and even more specifically in the Western Dominican Province. As such, however, it includes, in an appendix, feasts for Canada (Archdiocese of Toronto), Mexico (Diocese of Mexicali), and Italy (Archdiocese of Rome) because Western Dominican Friars serve in those places, as well as for all other US dioceses where they serve. I have also included in the appendix information for all dioceses where other American provinces have houses.
I would be happy to include local information for other dioceses where American friars are serving other than the ones provided for, if that information were sent to me. For each case I need: First, if the posting is outside the US, a list of all the national feasts and their dates there as they were in 1962 and any added since with approval of Rome. Then I need, for the particular place, the titular of the Cathedral, consecration date of the Cathedral, patron(s) of the diocese, name and installation date of the bishop, and any other feasts and dates on the local calendar in 1962, or added since. I cannot make additions without all this information, as I know you will understand.
You will also note that I have included the saints' days of Dominican saints (with ranks adjusted for the traditional rite) for saints and blesseds since 1962. You are free to use that information as you will. These feasts are current according to the most recent version of the General Calendar of the Order approved by Rome (2019). A list of "minor" Dominican blesseds approved only for local use comes last.
Finally, in your kindness, if you find any errors in this calendar, do let me know and I will correct them and put up the corrected PDF for download.
Some time ago, I published at Dominican Liturgy three posts on the then new discoveries about the origins of the Stabat Mater. As today is the the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, I thought is useful to gather these earlier posts together in one post.
I thank Fr. Innocent Smith O.P. for calling my attention to the original article announcing the discovery of the famous Stabat Mater being used as a sequence in the Gradual produced by a convent of Dominican nuns in Bologna in the later thirteenth century. This is by far the earliest known manuscript example of this hymn used as a sequence rather than as a devotional hymn. It has been commonly believed that the hymn only became used as a sequence in the late middle ages. It is also interesting that the melody provided matches neither the received Roman one nor that found in the printed Dominican books. This text is found in Bologna: Museo Civico Medievale MS 518, fo. 200v-04r.
For those who do not wish to read the article in Italian, here is an English summary:
The discovery of a Stabat Mater version set to music as a sequence in a late 13th-century Gradual from a Bolognese Dominican nunnery, makes it possible to advance new hypotheses about the origins and history of this renowned text. Untilnow there was no evidence that it was used as a sequence before the mid 15th century. The analysis of the piece highlights previously unidentified peculiarities regarding the historical and the liturgico-musical context in which it was used, whilst the comparison with the wealth of textual variants offered by its complex tradition points to concordances with later sources, mainly originating in Veneto and Emilia. As one of the earliest witnesses of this popular composition (there is only one other contemporary version, also from Bologna, but it is unnotated) there can be no doubt about its importance for textual criticism, and, inter alia, it does not favour the disputable paternity of Iacopone da Todi.
Here is the image of the manuscript with the beginning of the chant.
Careful readers will not that there are textual variants in this version as well. The Dominican Rite used by the friars added the Stabat Mater as a sequence on the feast of our Lady of Sorrows only in the 15th Century, thereby conforming the rite to the Roman, which had already added it. But the melody is not that of the thirteenth-century version. Here it is for comparison:
And here for additional comparison is the first verse with the melody as found in the 1961 Roman Gradual:
The discovery of this manuscript, as explained in the article (in Italian) linked above, shows, by the manuscript date that the traditional ascription of authorship to Jacopone of Todi can no longer be sustained. The date, however, leaves open the possibility, often mentioned, that it is the work of Pope Innocent III.
This new version is interesting for a number of reasons. First, this is the earliest use of the text as a sequence. Until the discovery of this version, it was only known as a hymn until the late middle ages. This manuscript shows that the earliest known use of the text as a sequence was among Italian Dominican nuns in the late 1200s.
Next, the text includes not only a number of verbal variants, but also includes two verses absent from the commonly received version. Those who wish to examine these can download my transcription and compare the text to the received version here.
Even more interesting is the music. As pointed out to me by the nuns of Summit NJ, this ancient sequence borrows, with the exception of one stanza, the melody (cf. verses 19 and 20), the melodies of the Sequence of St. Dominic in the Dominican Rite. There are a number of minor musical variants as well. Those interested might want to compare the music to that found in the Dominican Gradual for the Mass of St. Dominic.
Through the kindness of one of our readers who converted the PDFs of this music into JPGs I am posting below the newly discovered 13th-Century Sequence version of the Stabat Mater for viewing by readers. The PDFs may still be downloaded here.
I am aware that these images are a bit blurry; if you click on them or download them, you will get a clearer image.Perhaps some Dominicans (and non-Dominicans) may want to make use of the ancient version on the up-coming celebration of Our Lady of Sorrows.
I am sure that our readers are saying prayers for the repose of the soul of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who died this morning. Although a Mass with an intention for the repose of his soul may be said immediately, an actual Requiem Mass with the suitable collects cannot be said during the Octave of Easter since those days are first class feasts, and so only the Requiem Mass of the Funeral itself can be said during this week. The Requiem on news of a death would be second class and so the next possible date for such a Mass would be Monday, April 28, the third-class feast of St. Paul of the Cross.
The Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit for the Election of a Supreme Pontiff would be a fourth-class votive Mass, and so the next possible date would be Saturday, May 3. A votive Mass for a special occasion like an election of a prior, and so hypothetically for the election of a pope, would be second-class, but that would assume it would be said at the actual papal election itself. But such a Mass would never have been a Dominican Rite Mass. Thus this Votive Mass in the Dominican Missal would never be higher than fourth-class. The papal election itself will take place between May 6 and May 12, 2025, the earliest and latest dates for convoking the conclave. In that time frame the dates on which a fourth-class votive Mass may be celebrated are May 6 and May 12 themselves. The other days all have at least a third-class celebration.
Finally, the Votive Mass for the Papal Coronation (now called Installation) is second-class in our rite. Of course, it would never have been used at the actual coronation, so this Mass is in our rite actually "on the occasion" of the installation. It can be said so long as there is no first-class feast on that date. Even though, it would be assumed that this votive Mass would be said on the actual day of ceremony, it could, I think, be anticipated or deferred to an open date, should that be pastorally indicated.
Let us all pray, not only for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, but also for the Holy Spirit's guidance of the coming conclave!
As readers know, some ten years ago, Dominican Liturgy Publications published an English lectionary for the Dominican Rite, containing all the Epistles and Gospels of the year. As there have been additions to the calendar since then for new Dominican saints and because we have become aware of some minor errors in the old edition, Dominican Liturgy Publications has now published a revised edition.
This lectionary will allow those publicly celebrating Mass in Latin to read the readings in the vernacular as is expected under the terms of Traditionis Custodes, which requires this practice, either by replacing the Latin readings with vernacular or reading the vernacular before the sermon. If you would like to order a copy of this new edition of the lectionary or want to read about it, you can access the order page here.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Below is the picture of a Dominican Rite Solemn High Mass at St. Benedict's, McKenzie Bridge, OR, which is still a retreat center staffed by the Western US Dominicans, located near central Oregon, in the woods.
Here, the Deacon is proclaiming the Gospel, the Subdeacon holding the Gospel Book, and two of the servers holding candles for the Gospel. The thurifer can be partly seen behind the Deacon, swinging the thurible.
From "The Dominicans," Autumn 1957.
Monday, April 1, 2024
The following scans are taken from the Spring 1956 (Vol 3, No 2) issue of "The Dominicans," the-then newsletter for the Western Dominican Province.
I believe the first picture is taken from St. Albert's in Oakland, the one with the monstrance at St. Dominic's in San Francisco, and the latter ones I believe from old Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco (destroyed by fire in 1962), but corrections are welcome.
As readers know, there is no Ordination Rite in the Dominican Rite, but these took place under the local bishop and usually, the Roman Rite.
It is a pleasure for me, as the President of The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at the
University of Toronto (founded by Etienne Gilson), to announce an International Conference on Medieval Dominican Liturgy, scheduled to coincide
with the traditional feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, March 5 to 7, 2023. As
can be seen from the program below, this conference will include papers by scholars from
all around the world who have made major contributions to the study of medieval
Dominican liturgy. That program may also be downloaded here.
This conference is open to the
general public, and there is no registration fee, although those who wish to
attend the sessions must register by sending an email to the PIMS Executive
Assistant, Ms. Cynthia Watson. Reduced-rate rooms (limited number) are still available at the conference
hotel. Should you want one, please mention this in your registration-request
email. Note also that the two public liturgies in the Dominican Rite, the
First Vespers and the Solemn Mass of Thomas Aquinas, are both open to the general
public without need for registration. They will be held at St. Basil’s Collegiate Church, St. Michael’s College, Toronto ON---for more information, see the program:
I look forward to meeting our readers at the Conference. If you attend, do take the time to introduce yourself to me.
A number of years ago, I provided links to download digital images of the Humbert of Romans Codex. Now I have the pleasure to announce that there are now new images, far better and more readable than the older set. They are available for download in a zip file here. This is a large file, so be patient as it downloads. If you merely want to consult the images themselves they can be viewed online here. Those who download these new images have permission to use them or pass them on to others. This manuscript (Rome: Santa Sabina MS XIV L1) is the prototype for the medieval (and early-modern) Dominican Liturgy.
The image to the left is the title page of this manuscript which lists its title and contents. Here is a transcription:
On margin: Ecclesiasticum Officium secundum Ordinem Fratrum Praedicatorum; in hoc Volumine per Quatuordecim Libros Distinctum hoc Ordine Continetur.
In the center: Ordinarium: MS f. 0v - f. 12r Martyrologium: MS f. 13r - f. 40v Collectarium: MS f. 41r - f. 58r Processionarium: MS f. 58v - f. 65v Psalterium: MS f. 66r - f. 86v Breviarium: MS f. 87r - f. 141v Lectionarium: MS f. 142r - 230v Antiphonarium: MS f. 231r - 323r Graduale: MS f. 323v - f. 369v Pulpitarium: 370r- f. 392r Missale Conventuale: MS f. 393r - 421v Epistolarium: MS f. 422r - f. 435v Evangelistarium: MS f. 435v - 454v Missale Minorum Altarium: MS f. 455r - 500v
I include the folios on which each section is found so that this list can also serve as a table of contents to the images. The new images show facing pages and the number of each image gives the standard folio number of the folio whose recto is on the right side of the image.
This manuscript was compiled by the Master of the Order Humbert of Romans in accord with the commission of the Dominican General Chapter of Buda in 1254 and approved by the General Chapter of Paris in 1256. Except for additional feasts and the Psalter Reform of St. Pius X, the texts of this document were authoritative as the prototype for our liturgical books until 1969.
If you are looking for a particular musical chant, you may download this index of the chants found in the Humbert Codex. But please note that this scan is not of good quality.
VIDEO ONE
The film begins with clips of our House of Studies, still the same today in Oakland CA. Then follows film of the Dominican Rite Solemn Mass, the center of the liturgical day at the House of Studies. The film than moves to the class room, and then highlights different aspects of the life.
A list of those appearing is below the video. The times listed for each of the scenes in the identification list tell where you can find that segment on the video.
The Priory and Grounds (time 0:00)
Members of the Choir (time 1:35) are identified for Second Video
Solemn Mass Ministers (time 2:43)
Celebrant: Fr. Martin Giannini, O.P.
Deacon (l): Bro. Aquinas Wall, O.P.
Subdeacon (r): Bro. Nicholas Prince, O.P.
Senior Acolyte (r): Bro. Bernard Cranor, O.P.
Junior Acolyte (l): Bro. Brendan O’Rourke, O.P.
Thurifer: Bro. Bertrand Pidgeon, O.P.
Classroom (time 5:07)
Instructor: Fr. Fabian Parmisano, O.P.
Student in his Room (time 7:00)
Bro. Jordan DeMan, O.P.
Library Stacks (time 7:26)
Bro. Terence McCabe, O.P.
Bro. Sean Doherty, O.P.
Studying in Library (time 8:36)
Bro. Peter Cole, O.P.
____________________
Student Discussion by the Fire (time 9:11)
Bro. Philip Valera, O.P.
Bro. Benedict DeMan, O.P.
Bro. Bertrand Pidgeon, O.P.
Bro. Albert Linkogle, O.P.
Bro. Brendan O'Rourke, O.P.
Bro. Edmund Ryan, O.P.
Chess Players (time 9:58)
Bro. Stephen Coughlin, O.P.
Bro. Lawrence Ackerman, O.P.
Music Room (time 10:20)
Bro. Thomas More McGreevy, O.P.
Bro. Salvador Calderon, O.P. (Mexican Province)
Bro. Francisco Brenes Camocho, O.P. (Spanish Province)
Drama Practice (time 10:43)
Director: Bro. Lawrence Ackerman, O.P.
Bro. Sabastian Haterias, O.P.
Bro. Gerald Elher, O.P.
Fr. Fabian Parmisano, O.P.
Weather Service (time 11:30)
Bro. Stanislaus Sharlach, O.P.
Art Studio (time 11:56)
__________________
Bro. Aquinas Wall, O.P.
VIDEO TWO
The second part of the film highlights the fine arts and the domestic life of the house. It then returns to the Solemn Mass and ends with the chanting of the Exsultet according to the Dominican chant. The credits were actually added later, I am told by Fr. Finbar Hayes.
Music Session (time 0:00)
Trumpeter: Bro. James Aymong, O.P.
Guitar: Bro. Louis Fronk, O.P.
Print Shop (time 0:30)
Bro. Antoninus Everson, T.O.P.
Wood Shop (time 1:25)
_____________________
Bro. Daniel Thomas, O.P.
Bro. Raphael Goodfriend, O.P.
Visiting the Infirm (time 2:39)
Fr. Bertrand Clyne, O.P.
Bro. Gregory Lira, O.P.
Student and Teacher (time 2:60)
Fr. Leo Thomas, O.P.
Bro. Giles Wentworth, O.P.
Priest Leaving for Sunday Supply (time 3:30)
Student Driver: __________________
Fr. Mark McPhee, O.P.
Gardens (time 4:06)
__________________ (walking)
Bro. Matthias Lockett, O.P. (weeding)
Dominican Sisters at Grotto (time 4:35)
Sister Assumta Vorndran, O.P.
Sister Maria Goretti Eder, O.P.
Sister Nicolina Kohler, O.P.
Sister Melita Wolf, O.P.
Sisters in the Kitchen (time 5:02)
Sister Rosalia Steinbach, O.P.
Sister Maria Goretti Eder, O.P.
De Profundis Line and Refectory (time 5:19)
Fr. William Lewis, O.P. is the Prior
Reader in Refectory (time 6:35)
Bro. Stephen Coughlin, O.P.
Friars at Table (time 7:03)
server: _____________
Fr. Dominic Deniz Ortega, O.P. (Province of Spain)
Fr. Martin Giannini, O.P.
Fr. Mark McPhee, O.P.
Fr. John Flannerty, O.P.
In the Cloister (time 7:40)
In garden: __________
In archway: Bro. Thomas Thierman, T.O.P.
The Choir at Mass (time 8:35)
The Cantors (left to right)
Bro. Francisco Brenes Camacho, O.P. (Spanish Province)
Bro. Louis Fronk, O.P.
Bro. Bertrand Pidgeon, O.P.
Bro. James Aymong, O.P.
Front Row on Left (left to right)
Bro. Daniel Thomas, O.P.
Bro. Gregory Lira, O.P.
Bro. Antoninus Everson, T.O.P.
Bro. Albert Linkogle, O.P.
Bro. Lawrence Ackerman, O.P.
Bro. Augustine Hartman, O.P.
Bro. Anthony Chavez, O.P.
Bro. Patrick Labelle, O.P.
Bro. Bede Wilks, O.P.
Bro. Philip Valera, O.P.
Fr. Peter Miles, O.P.
Back Row on Left (left to right)
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Front Row on Right (left to right)
_____________________
Bro. Sebastian Haterias, O.P.
Bro. Gerard Elher, O.P.
_____________________
Bro. Giles Wentworth, O.P.
Bro. Stephen Coughlin, O.P.
_____________________
Bro. Edmund Ryan, O.P.
Bro. Frederick Narberes, O.P.
_____________________
Bro. Adrian Rivera (lay brother postulant)
Back Row on Right
[Empty stalls]
Bro. Terence McCabe, O.P.
Solemn Mass (time 10:00) ministers are identified for first video
The Exsultet (time 11:34)
Bro. Kieran Healy, O.P.
Credits (time 14:00)
Fr. Mark McPhee, O.P.
Fr. Fabian Parmisano, O.P.
Fr. Finbar Hayes, O.P.
Fr. Leo Thomas, O.P.
I thank Bro. Lupe for his help with the production of this video and Fr. Edmund Ryan for his help in identifying the friars. I also thank the many friars who have written me with corrections and new identifications.
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