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.








 

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Dominican Rite Calendar for 2024 Now Available


Greetings, readers!  This is just to let you know that the Dominican Rite Calendar for 2024 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) 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!

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Conference on Medieval Dominican Liturgy, Toronto Canada, March 5-7, 2023

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.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Dominican Rite Calendar for A.D. 2023 Now Available

 

We are pleased to announce that the Dominican Rite Calendar for A.D. 2023 is now available for download on the Left Sidebar.

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.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

NEW Digital Images of the Humbert of Romans Codex (1256)

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.

Friday, July 9, 2021

Dominican Rite Mass Videos Online

We often get requests for links to celebrations of the Dominican Rite Mass, so we have compiled a fairly complete listing of known Masses.

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:

All Saints of the Dominican Order (High), Fr. Charles Shonk, O.P., Celebrant, St. Patrick Church, Columbus OH, Nov. 12, 2018

All Souls of the Dominican Order Requiem Mass (Solemn), Fr. Vincent Kelber, O.P., Celebrant, St. Dominic Church, San Francisco CA, Nov. 9, 2020 

Ember Wednesday of Advent (Solemn), Celebrant Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P., Star of the Sea Church, San Francisco CA, Dec. 18, 2013

Fourth Sunday after Easter (High), Fr. Henry Steven, O.P., Celebrant, St. Gertrude Church, Cincinnati OH, Apr. 26, 2020 

Immaculate Conception (Solemn), Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P., Celebrant, Star of the Sea Church, San Francisco CA, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013  

St. Dominic (Votive High), Fr. Didier Pietro Baccanti, O.P., Celebrant, Basilica San Domenico, Bologna, Italy, July 7, 2015 

St. Joseph the Worker (Solemn), Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., Celebrant, St. Albert the Great Priory, Oakland CA, May 1, 2021 

 St. Thomas Aquinas (Votive High), Fr. Paul Raftery., O.P, Celebrant, St, Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula CA, Jan. 28, 2012 

 St. Thomas Aquinas (High), Fr. Charles Shonk, O.P., St. Patrick Church, Columbus OH, Mar. 7, 2020 

In Time of Pestilence (Votive High), Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., Celebrant, St. Albert the Great Priory, Oakland CA, Apr. 4, 2020

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Life in a Dominican Studium before Vatican II (Oakland, 1961)

I posted these videos some ten years ago, but I thought some of our readers, who never saw them, might find them interesting. Enjoy!

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) 

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.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Answer Key for Scanlon and Scanlon's Second Latin Available

 Since the the response to the news of the publication announced here of an Answer Key for Cora and Charles Scanlon’s Latin Grammar for Reading the Missal and Breviary was so good, Dominican Liturgy Publications​ is pleased to announce the publication of an Answer Key for the Scanlons’ Second Latin: Preparation for Reading Philosophy, Theology, and Canon Law.

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.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Dominican Rite Ordo for 2021 (English)

Greetings and Merrie Christmas,

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.