Dominican Order facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Order of Preachers

Ordo Praedicatorum
Coat of arms of the order
Abbreviation	OP
Formation	1206 (for women) 1215 (for men) December 22, 1216 (December 22, 1216) (of pontifical right)
Founder	Dominic de Guzmán
Founded at	Prouille, France (for women) Toulouse, France (for men)
Headquarters	Convento Santa Sabina, Piazza Pietro d'Illiria 1, Rome, Italy
Membership (2020)	5,545 members (includes 4,147 priests)
Master of the Order	Fr. Gerard Timoner III, OP
Parent organization	Catholic Church
Motto: Laudare, benedicere, praedicare ('To praise, to bless, to preach') Patron Saints: Saint Dominic Mary Magdalene Catherine of Siena

Saint Dominic, shown in a painting by Fra Angelico.

A figure showing the idea of Domini canes ('hounds of the Lord').

The Order of Preachers (Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum), also known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic religious group. It was started in France by a priest named Dominic de Guzmán. Pope Honorius III officially approved it on December 22, 1216.

Members of this group are called Dominicans. They often use the letters OP after their names. This stands for Ordinis Praedicatorum, meaning 'of the Order of Preachers'. The order includes friars (brothers), nuns, sisters, and lay (non-clergy) members.

The Dominicans were founded to share the gospel (Christian teachings). They also aimed to correct wrong ideas about faith. Their focus on teaching and learning made them leaders in education during the Middle Ages. Many important theologians and philosophers have been Dominicans. In 2018, there were 5,747 Dominican friars. The order is led by the master of the order. As of 2022, this is Gerard Timoner III. Mary Magdalene and Catherine of Siena are special patronesses of the order.

How the Order Started

Saint Dominic on the cover of a catechism from 1593.

The Dominican Order began in the Middle Ages. At that time, many religious people started traveling among the public. They wanted to follow the example of the early Christian apostles. Two main groups of traveling friars emerged: the Franciscans, led by Francis of Assisi, and the Dominicans, led by Dominic de Guzmán.

Dominic wanted to create a new kind of religious order. He wanted it to combine the deep study of older groups like the Benedictines with more flexibility. This new order would focus on preaching to people in cities. They would also teach in local languages.

Dominic taught his followers to value learning and goodness. He also showed them the importance of simple living. The Dominicans developed a "mixed" way of life. They were active in preaching, but also spent time studying, praying, and meditating. They were known for being both scholarly and deeply spiritual.

Dominic de Guzmán

Saint Dominic (1170–1221), painted by El Greco.

As a teenager, Dominic de Guzmán loved theology. The Bible was very important to him. During his studies, there was a terrible famine. Dominic sold his books to help his neighbors. He later became a priest. He was appointed to a church chapter in Osma.

Preaching to Others

In 1203, Dominic traveled with Bishop Diego de Acebo. They went on a trip for the Spanish king. At this time, southern France had many Cathars. This group had different beliefs from the Catholic Church. The Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229) was a military effort to stop the Cathar movement.

Dominic felt it was important to help Cathars understand Catholic teachings. He started preaching near Toulouse. He believed in using persuasion instead of force. Bishop Diego suggested that Catholic leaders should live simpler lives. This would show people a better example. Dominic and Diego worked to bring Cathars back to the Catholic faith.

First Dominican Convent

Dominic became a spiritual guide for some Cathar women. In 1206, he started a convent for them in Prouille, France. This was the beginning of the Dominican nuns. They are actually older than the Dominican friars! This convent became Dominic's main base for his mission.

History of the Order

Dominic officially founded the Dominican Order in 1215. He set up a religious community in Toulouse in 1214. They followed the rule of Saint Augustine and had their own rules. The order was created for two main reasons: preaching and helping people find salvation.

In July 1215, Dominic organized his followers into an official group. These priests were well-trained in religious studies. They followed the Rule of Saint Augustine. This meant they were not monks, but "canons regular." They could preach and live together while owning little.

The Order of Preachers was approved by Pope Honorius III in December 1216 and January 1217. On January 21, 1217, the Pope gave Dominic's followers permission to preach everywhere. Before this, only local bishops could give such permission.

Study was very important to the Dominicans. Dominic believed that people could not preach what they did not understand. On August 15, 1217, Dominic sent seven followers to Paris. They were to set up a center for study and preaching. This became the order's first major study house. Dominic started similar centers in other university towns. These included Bologna (1218) and Oxford (1221). The women of the order also started schools for children.

An old Dominican carving from 1316 in Szprotawa, Poland.

Thomas Aquinas, a very important Dominican thinker.

A painting showing the Virgin Mary as a patroness of the Dominicans.

In 1219, Pope Honorius III invited Dominic to live in Santa Sabina in Rome. In May 1220, the order decided that every new Dominican house must have its own study center. This helped spread learning throughout the order. One of these study centers later became the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum.

Dominican friars quickly spread across Europe. They reached England in 1221. In the 13th century, they preached to all kinds of people. They also went on missions to other parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Their schools grew throughout the church. Famous Dominican scholars include Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas. Some Dominicans became popes, cardinals, and bishops.

The order's early work against false teachings shaped its future. Many Dominicans continued to fight against ideas they saw as wrong. For example, Tomás de Torquemada, a famous leader of the Spanish Inquisition, was a Dominican. The order was given the job of carrying out the Inquisition by Pope Gregory IX.

Over time, the order grew and changed. Some Dominicans focused more on quiet, spiritual life. This led to a mystical movement in Germany and Italy. Famous mystics like Meister Eckhart and Catherine of Siena were part of this.

The Dominicans also faced the Renaissance. They argued against some of its non-religious ideas. But they also had artists like Fra Angelico and Fra Bartolomeo.

Women in the Order

Dominic started houses for women even before the friars. By 1227, many women's houses were linked to the order. There were 74 Dominican women's houses in Germany alone. Many of these were for women who wanted to live a religious life. These houses became centers for study and spiritual growth in the 14th century. By 1358, there were 157 convents for nuns.

Unlike the male Dominican houses, the women's convents were enclosed. The sisters prayed regularly and followed strict rules. They were guided by the order's leaders. Friars served as their confessors, priests, and teachers.

Girls could join the Dominican religious life at age 13. They promised to obey God and their leaders. Their clothes included a white tunic, a leather belt, a black cloak, and a black veil. Nuns were expected to be silent in many areas of the convent. They could speak in a common room, but with strict rules.

Nuns also took part in intellectual activities. They read and discussed religious books. In one German monastery, some nuns could speak Latin very well. Learning was very important in their lives.

English Province

The English and Hungarian Dominican groups started in 1221. Dominic sent 12 friars to England. They arrived in Dover on August 5, 1221. The English group officially began in 1230.

The English Dominicans were part of the larger international order. But they were also a group of Englishmen. Their leaders were from England. They lived and worked in English cities and towns.

The first Dominican place in England was in Oxford. The friars built a small church there. By 1265, they started building a school. Dominican houses were legally considered schools. All Dominican students had to learn grammar, logic, natural philosophy, and theology. Theology was the most important subject.

Dartford Priory was a convent for nuns in England. The first nuns there came from a convent in France. They followed a tradition of deep learning and strong faith. The convent was known for its strict rules and simple living.

From the Reformation to Today

Bartolomé de Las Casas (about 1484–1566).

The 16th century brought big changes with the Reformation. The spread of Protestantism caused the Dominicans to lose many houses. But the discovery of the New World opened new opportunities.

Bartolomé de Las Casas was a Dominican who traveled to the New World. He saw how badly Native Americans were treated. He became famous for speaking up for their rights.

Gaspar da Cruz (about 1520–1570) was another Dominican missionary. He worked in Asia. He was probably the first Christian missionary to preach in Cambodia. He also wrote the first European book focused only on China.

In the 18th century, the number of Dominicans decreased. The French Revolution badly affected the order in France. Other problems also caused many groups to shrink or disappear.

However, the order started to grow again in the 19th century. In 1876, there were 3,748 Dominicans. By 1910, there were 4,472. As of 2021, there were 5,753 friars, including 4,219 priests.

Portrait of Lacordaire.

In France, Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire (1802–1861) helped the order grow again. He became a Dominican in 1839. The French group was officially re-established in 1850. This French group helped other Dominican groups around the world.

French Dominicans have been important preachers. They also founded the École Biblique et Archéologique française de Jérusalem in 1890. This is a leading center for studying the Bible. The famous Jerusalem Bible was created there.

Learning has always been key to the Dominicans. The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) was started in Rome in 1908. It teaches religious studies to many students.

During the Reformation, many Dominican convents for nuns closed. But some survived, like St Ursula's in Augsburg. In the 17th century, bishops often asked Dominican nuns to teach girls or care for the sick. In the 19th century, many convents were asked to send groups of women to start schools and clinics worldwide. These groups often became new, self-governing Dominican sister groups. Today, there are 24,600 Sisters in 150 Dominican groups around the world.

The Dominican Order has also influenced other Christian groups. For example, the Anglican Order of Preachers in the Anglican Communion was inspired by them.

Missions Abroad

In the 13th and 14th centuries, a time of peace called the Pax Mongolica helped missionaries travel east. Dominican friars were preaching in Russia by 1225. In 1240, Pope Gregory IX sent others to Persia and Armenia.

A famous Dominican, Jordanus de Severac, went to Persia and then India in 1321. He wrote about his travels in a book called Wonders of the East. Another Dominican, Ricold of Monte Croce, worked in Syria and Persia.

By the 1850s, Dominicans had many followers in the Philippines. They also had missions in China and Vietnam. They performed thousands of baptisms each year. The Dominicans in the Philippines helped education by starting schools like Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

How the Order is Organized

The Dominican family includes friars, nuns, and sisters. It also includes priests who are part of the order, lay (non-clergy) Dominicans, and Dominican youths.

Leadership

The highest authority is the General Chapter. This group makes rules for all parts of the Dominican Order. It has two parts: the Chapter of Provincials and the Chapter of Definitors. Both parts can suggest new rules. New rules are only passed if approved by three General Chapters in a row.

The General Chapter also chooses the Master of the Order. The Master is like the leader of the entire order. They have a lot of power over all members and houses. The Master is chosen for a 9-year term.

Nuns

Dominican nuns were founded by Dominic even before the friars. They live a quiet, prayerful life in convents. They celebrated their 800th anniversary in 2006. Some convents make religious items or communion wafers to support themselves.

Friars

Friars are the male members of the order. Some are priests, and some are "cooperator brothers" (non-ordained members). Both groups preach, work in churches, teach, and do social work. Dominican life has four main parts: prayer, study, community, and preaching. Dominicans are known for their strong focus on learning. They study for a long time before making their final promises to the order.

Sisters

A marble carving of Saints Dominic and Catherine.

Women have been part of the Dominican Order since the beginning. But active groups of Dominican sisters mostly started in the 1800s. They came from the Dominican nuns and from groups of laywomen. Catherine of Siena was a famous lay Dominican.

In the 17th century, some convents temporarily stopped being enclosed. This allowed them to teach or nurse people in need. In the 19th century, many convents sent women to start schools and medical clinics around the world. These groups became self-governing. Today, there are many Dominican Sister groups worldwide.

Like the friars, Dominican sisters live by four main values: community life, common prayer, study, and service. Dominic called this way of life "holy preaching." The artist Henri Matisse was so impressed by the care he received from Dominican Sisters that he helped design their chapel in France.

Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic

These are diocesan priests who are officially connected to the Dominican Order. They follow a special set of rules. They aim to live a holy life under the guidance of the Dominican friars. They share in the Dominican way of life and mission. But they still serve their local church under their own Bishop.

Laity (Lay Dominicans)

The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Siena by Giovanni di Paolo.

Lay Dominicans are non-clergy members. They follow their own rules, first written in 1285. They have a special way of life and serve God and others. They are part of the order's mission through prayer, study, and preaching.

Pope Pius XII said in 1958 that Lay Dominicans should seek a deeper knowledge of God. They should also show Christian attitudes in their lives.

Two of the most famous Lay Dominicans are Catherine of Siena and Rose of Lima. They lived simple, holy lives in their homes. Yet they had a big impact on their societies.

Today, many "Associates" also share the Dominican spirit. These are Christian men and women, married or single. They commit to working with vowed members. They share the Dominican mission in their daily lives and communities.

Dominican Spirituality

The Dominicans are known for their focus on learning and helping others. Early members brought a deep sense of spirituality and learning to the order. They sought a very close relationship with God. When the order came to England, these ideas continued.

Humbert of Romans

Humbert of Romans was a Master General of the order from 1254 to 1263. He was a great leader, preacher, and writer. He gave the nuns a new set of rules. He also wanted his friars to be excellent preachers.

Humbert advised young Dominicans not to seek visions or miracles. He said these things do not help much for salvation. Instead, they should focus on doing good. He also said not to be sad if they do not feel God's comfort. God sometimes holds back these feelings for a reason. The English Dominicans took this advice to heart.

Mysticism

Mysticism is the belief that all believers can experience God's love. This love can bring moments of great joy and a direct knowledge of God. The goal of mysticism is to become closer to God and more like Christ.

European Dominicans often sought intense, joyful experiences with God. English Dominicans also sought this closeness. But they focused more on living a moral life like Christ. The Dartford nuns combined these ideas to create their own unique spirituality.

Saint Albertus Magnus

Painting of Albertus Magnus (1206–1280).

Albert the Great was another important Dominican. He believed that we can know things about God, but it is hard to fully understand Him. It is easier to say what God is not, than what He is.

Albert the Great wrote that wisdom and understanding help faith in God. He said these are how God communicates with those who pray deeply. Love in the soul leads to a true understanding of God. This includes both intellectual and emotional knowledge. Deep prayer helps one reach this understanding. Things that seemed unchanging become full of possibility. The person praying knows that God exists, but not exactly what God is. This means that deep prayer always gives a mysterious, incomplete knowledge of God.

Rhineland Mysticism

Mysticism in the Rhineland (a region in Germany) grew during times of trouble. The writings of Albertus Magnus helped this German mysticism. It became strong among groups like the Beguines.

In Europe, women in the order often became known for mystical experiences. These included Catherine of Siena and Mechthild of Magdeburg. Famous male mystics were Henry Suso and Johannes Tauler.

One of Meister Eckhart's ideas was that people should remember the great honor God has given to the human soul.

English Dominican Mysticism

By 1300, the focus on preaching had lessened. Mysticism became very important. It helped people change personally and understand theology better. Although Albertus Magnus helped bring mysticism to the order, the idea goes back to the Hebrew Bible. The Bible often talks about how difficult it is to see God directly. Later writings talked about "unknowing," where God's presence was like a dark cloud. All these ideas shaped Dominican spirituality.

English Dominican mysticism in the late Middle Ages was different. European Dominicans focused on joyful experiences of union with God. English Dominicans focused on imitating Christ's moral life. They believed this would change human nature to be more like God. This type of mysticism had four parts:

• First, it meant copying Christ's moral life.
• Second, it linked imitating Christ to humanity being made in God's image.
• Third, it focused on a spiritual life that included loving other people.
• Finally, the main goal was to become one with God, either ethically or actually.

For English Dominican mystics, the mystical experience was not just one moment of knowing God. It was a journey of faith. This led to an understanding of God through experience. It was possible to live a mystical life without visions or voices.

Christ was central to all mystical experience. English Dominicans wanted to know Christ fully by imitating his life. English mystics often focused on the moral lessons from Christ's life. This led to a deeper understanding of the Bible. The simplest way to imitate Christ was to copy his actions and attitudes. This was the most important way to feel and know God.

The English Dominicans focused on the spirit of Christ's life. They did not expect or seek physical signs like the stigmata. They wanted to create within themselves the conditions that allowed Jesus to do his divine work. At the heart of this was love. Christ showed love for humanity by becoming human. Christ's love shows God's mercy and care. English Dominican mystics wanted to become images of God through this love. Their spirituality focused on the moral meaning of being made in God's image. Love led to spiritual growth, which in turn increased love for God and humanity.

Devotion to Mary

Devotion to the Virgin Mary was very important to Dominicans. They believed their order was started through her help. They thought she sent missionaries to save souls. Dominican brothers and sisters who could not attend the main prayers sang the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary daily. They honored her as their helper.

The Holy Rosary has been very important to Dominicans for centuries. Pope Pius XI said the Rosary is the foundation of the order. Stories say that the Virgin Mary gave the Rosary to Dominic himself in 1208. Dominicans have helped spread the Rosary and the Catholic belief in its power.

On January 1, 2008, the Master of the Order declared a year dedicated to the Rosary.

Other Names

The Dominican Order and its members have been called by other names:

• In England, Dominican friars are called Black Friars. This is because of the black cloak they wear over their white clothes. They were called "Blackfriars" to tell them apart from "Whitefriars" (Carmelites) or "Greyfriars" (Franciscans).
• In France, Dominicans were known as Jacobins. This was because their main house in Paris was next to the Church of Saint-Jacques.
• Their name "Dominicans" led to a clever saying: Domini canes, which means "Hounds of the Lord."

Mottoes

Laudare, benedicere, praedicare

To praise, to bless, and to preach.

Veritas

Truth.

Contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere

To study and to share what you learn (or, to pray and share the fruits of prayer).

One in faith, hope, and love.

Famous Members

Pope Innocent V in a painting from the 1350s.

Dominican Popes and Cardinals

Four Dominican friars have become Pope:

• Pope Innocent V (1276)
• Pope Benedict XI (1303–04)
• Pope Pius V (1566–72)
• Pope Benedict XIII (1724–30)

The first Dominican to become a cardinal was Hugh of Saint-Cher in 1244.

Today, there are three Dominican cardinals:

• Dominik Duka (born 1943), from the Czech Republic.
• Christoph Schönborn (born 1945), from Austria.
• Jose Advincula (born 1952), from the Philippines.

Other Notable Dominicans

Many other Dominicans have been famous for different reasons:

• Thomas Aquinas (about 1225–1274), a very important Catholic thinker.
• Fra Angelico (1395-1455), a famous painter.
• Bartolomé de las Casas (1484–1566), known as the Protector of the Indians for his work in the New World.
• Meister Eckhart (about 1260-about 1328), a German mystic and preacher.
• Giordano Bruno (1548–1600), a philosopher and astronomer.
• Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire (1802–1861), a French theologian and writer.
• Dominique Pire (1910–1969), who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Girolamo Savonarola (1452–1498), an Italian preacher.
• Francisco de Vitoria (about 1483–1546), a Spanish philosopher known for his work on international law.

Schools and Universities

A young Dominican in 2012.

The Dominicans have founded many educational institutions around the world. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Orden de Predicadores para niños