Dominican
Truth as a path to holiness.
The plan of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic, built as a four-legged stool — prayer, study, community, apostolate. Remove any leg and the stool falls. Its motto is Veritas, and its conviction is that theological study is itself prayer, not a preparation for it.
The Liturgy of the Hours and the Rosary — to which the Dominicans gave its modern form — anchor the day, alongside Mass and mental prayer. Then comes the distinctive pillar: daily study of Scripture and the doctors, especially St. Thomas, taken in small steady portions. Contemplata aliis tradere — to contemplate, and to hand on to others the fruits of contemplation.
For catechists, teachers, the theologically curious — anyone whose love of God is mediated through the mind.
Rule of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic; St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae
What it proposes
- Morning Offering — Dominican 06:45 · Daily · Essential
The Dominican morning offering — before Lauds, the day's prayers, communions, rosaries, and works given to the Holy Trinity through Our Lady, for the wide horizon of charity proper to the Order of Preachers.
- Liturgy of the Hours 07:00 · Daily · Essential
The Liturgy of the Hours, the first pillar of prayer — Lay Dominicans pray at minimum Lauds, Vespers, and Compline, sanctifying the day's hinges.
- Holy Mass 07:30 · Daily · Ideal
The daily Eucharist when possible — the truth contemplated in study made present and received at the altar.
- Mental Prayer 08:00 · Daily · Ideal
Daily mental prayer, where the fruits of study ripen into contemplation before they are handed on to others.
- Spiritual Reading 21:00 · Daily · Essential
The pillar of Study — daily Scripture and the doctors, especially St. Thomas, taken in small steady portions, for among Dominicans study is itself prayer.
- Holy Rosary 18:00 · Daily · Essential
The daily Rosary, the prayer to which the Order of Preachers gave its modern form — Veritas contemplated through the eyes of the Mother.
- Examination of Conscience 21:30 · Daily · Ideal
The nightly examen, a truthful accounting of the day — for the love of truth begins with the truth about oneself.
- Confession 10:00 · Essential
Frequent confession, keeping the preacher's heart clear so that what is handed on rings true.
- Fraternity chapter Monthly · Ideal
The monthly chapter meeting of the lay fraternity — the pillar of Community, where spiritual friendship and fraternal correction keep the four-legged stool from falling.
In the Ember app, adopt this tradition as your own plan of life, practice by practice, with times and reminders.