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.
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| From "The Dominicans," Autumn 1957. |
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) and Mexico (Diocese of Mexicali) 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.
God bless you all!
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:
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This calendar also lists all feasts proper to the United States as they were in 1962 was well as all added since then. Appendices are provided giving the local feasts in all dioceses of the United States where Dominican friars have houses, as well as for Toronto, Canada, and Mexicali, Mexico, where the Western Dominican Province has friars in residence.
We would be happy to add other foreign dioceses where the Western Province has friars if one of those friars sends us a list of the local feasts and their proper rank.
Finally, there is an appendix with all the minor blesseds, celebrated only within their original provinces. These may also be celebrated elsewhere for pastoral need, as votive Masses.
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| Title Page of the Humbert Codex |
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.
The following Churches broadcast Masses according to the Rite of the Order of Preachers on a weekly or nearly weekly basis.
Click on these communities for links to their many Masses:
Most Holy Family Old Cathedral, Anchorage, Alaska
The Rosary Shrine, St. Dominic Church, London, England
Holy Rosary Church, Portland, Oregon
Individual Masses in alphabetical order by celebration:
St. Thomas Aquinas (High), Fr. Charles Shonk, O.P., St. Patrick Church, Columbus OH, Mar. 7, 2020
The video "Life a Monastery" was broadcast on Oakland Channel 6 in 1961. It shows life in the Western Dominican Province House of Studies, Saint Albert the Great Priory, in Oakland CA.
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)
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)
Studying in Library (time 8:36)
Student Discussion by the Fire (time 9:11)
Chess Players (time 9:58)
Music Room (time 10:20)
Drama Practice (time 10:43)
Weather Service (time 11:30)
Bro. Stanislaus Sharlach, O.P.
Art Studio (time 11:56)
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)
Print Shop (time 0:30)
Bro. Antoninus Everson, T.O.P.
Wood Shop (time 1:25)
Visiting the Infirm (time 2:39)
Student and Teacher (time 2:60)
Priest Leaving for Sunday Supply (time 3:30)
Gardens (time 4:06)
Dominican Sisters at Grotto (time 4:35)
Sisters in the Kitchen (time 5:02)
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)
In the Cloister (time 7:40)
The Choir at Mass (time 8:35)
The Cantors (left to right)
Front Row on Left (left to right)
Back Row on Left (left to right)
Front Row on Right (left to right)
Back Row on Right
Solemn Mass (time 10:00) ministers are identified for first video
The Exsultet (time 11:34)
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.
This second volume of the Scanlons' set was originally published in 1944 for use in minor seminaries and even in major seminaries, for seminarians with weak or non-existent Latin. There are exercises reviewing virtually all the grammar and each chapter has reading exercises from scholastic theology or philosophy manuals, as well a from the 1917 Code of Canon Law and the decrees of the Council of Trent. This is an excellent supplement to Latin Grammar for those who want to go beyond the Liturgy and the Vulgate Bible either in homeschooling or self-study.
For those who would need copies of the textbooks themselves, Latin Grammar itself is available here and here. The first version has better binding and printing, but the second is a cheaper. And Second Latin is available here and here. Again, the quality and price differences are the same.
We wish all our readers a fruitful and holy Lent.
Through the kindness of Breviarium S.O.P., I am happy to announce that the Dominican Rite Ordo for 2021 is now available at Dominican Liturgy Publications. This Ordo is intended for use by anyone who prays the 1962 Dominican Rite Breviary.
It includes a complete calendar for the Dominican Rite liturgical year 2021. In addition, it includes the collect prayers for the Dominican blesseds who are not on the calendar (so that a votive commemoration can be made of their feast), obits of the deceased Masters General, and announcements of days when Dominican Tertiaries (Lay Dominicans) can obtain plenary indulgences. Finally, it contains an English translation of the Office of Prime, which was omitted from the 1967 English translation of the Dominican Breviary.
