Why Join Us

Vatican II proclaimed, time and again, that all Christians are called to perfection. “All the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord, each in his own way, to that perfect holiness whereby the Father himself is perfect.” (Lumen Gentium, n.11) “It is evident to everyone that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity. By this holiness a more human way of life is promoted even in this earthly society” (Ibid., n.40) Obviously this applies also to the laity, which embraces, “all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in a religious state sanctioned by the Church.” (Ibid., n.31)

There is a plan for the sanctification of all individuals. “The layman’s religious program of life should take its special quality from his status as a married man and a family man, or as one who is unmarried or widowed, from his state of health, and from his professional and social activity. He should not cease to develop earnestly the qualities and talents bestowed on him in accord with these conditions of life, and he should make use of the gifts which he has received from the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, the laity who in pursuit of their vocation have become members of one of the associations or institutes approved by the Church are trying faithfully to adopt the special characteristics of the spiritual life which are proper to these as well.” (Apostolicam Actuositatem, n.4)

In the same way, all members of the Church, including the laity, are called to actively participate in the apostolate of the Church: “For this the Church was founded: that by spreading the kingdom of Christ everywhere for the glory of God the Father, she might bring all men to share in Christ’s saving redemption; and that through them the whole world might in actual fact be brought into relationship with Him. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, and the Church carries it on in various ways through all her members. For by its very nature the Christian vocation is also a vocation to the apostolate. No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive but each has a share in the functions as well as in the life of the body. So, too, in the body of Christ, which is the Church, the whole body, ‘according to the functioning in due measure of each single part, derives its increase.’ (Ephesians 4:16) Indeed, so intimately are the parts linked and interrelated in the body (cf. Ephesians 4:16) that the member who fails to make his proper contribution to the development of the Church must be said to be useful neither to the Church not to himself.” (Ibid., n.2)

The objectives of personal sanctification and participation in the apostolate of the Church are best achieved when the lay people form specific associations. The new canon law mentions prominently the Third Order, known also by other suitable names, as public associations (distinct from Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life) and defines them as “Associations whose members lead an apostolic life and strive for Christian perfection while living in the world and participate in the spirit of some Religious Institute under its overall directions.” (Canon 303)

* Some Outstanding Members of the Dominican Laity

Membership in the Dominican Laity has been a school of perfection, and even of sanctity, for people of all nationalities and different walks of life. Suffice to mention the following by way of example:

- St. Catherine of Siena (+1380)

- St. Rose of Lima (+1617)

- Bl. Bartolo Longo (+1926)

- Beatrice of Florence (Giotto’s daughter)

- Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (+1494, representative of the Florentine Renaissance)

- Louisa de Borja (+1560, sister of St. Francis de Borja, SJ)

- Margaret of Cashel (+1647), Nora Burke (+1653) and Nora Magaen (+1653), Irish martyrs

- John James Olier (+1657, founder of the Sulpician Seminary in Paris)

- Emmanuel Belgrano (1820, hero of the Argentine independence)

- Frederic Ozanan (+1853, French writer, co-founder of the Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul)

- Donoso Cortes (+1853, Spanish diplomat, philosopher and writer)

- Sophia Carlota (+1897, Duchess of Alencon, German noblewoman)

-  Ernest Psichari (1914, French writer)

- Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (+1926, Italian university student)

- Praxedes Fernandez Garcia (1935, in the process of beatification)

- Walthere Dewe, (+1944, “first patriot of the Belgian Resistance”)

- Sigfrid Undset (+1944, Norwegian, recipient of Nobel Prize for Literature)

- Wilhelm Cuno (+1933, Chancellor of the Reich in 1922-23)

- Eric Gill (+1940, English sculptor and writer, founder of the Ditchling Community)

- Aldo Moro (+1978, Italian politician, several times Prime Minister of Italy)

- Giorgio La Pira (+1978, Mayor of Florence, candidate for beatification)

- The Marquis of Lozoya (1980, Spanish historian and art critic)

>> Numerous priests and Bishops were also members of the Dominican Third Order (now called the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic). Among them were Pope Benedict XV (+1922) and Pope Pius XII (+1958)

* Notable Members of the Dominican Laity of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Dominican Laity in the Far East has a history of 400 years. The Founding Fathers of the Holy Rosary Province took care of establishing the Third Order in the Philippines and other countries (Japan, China, Vietnam) as soon as they could. And, like elsewhere, the Dominican Laity cooperated closely in the projects of the Order, being associated with the Dominican Fathers in the evangelization and even in martyrdom. Illustrious members of the Dominican Laity were: St. Marina of Omura (+1634) and St. Magdalen of Nagasaki (+1634), both martyrs and canonized in 1987, as well as Bl. John Tomaki (+1628), who died for the faith in Japan together with his children who were also beatified: Dominic (16), Michael (13), Thomas (10), and Paul (7).

Twelve of the Vietnamese martyrs canonized in 1988 were also members of the Dominican Laity. Prominent among them are St. Dominic An Kham and St. Luke Cai Thin (+1859), noblemen, father, and son; St. Joseph Canh (+1838), medical practitioner; St. Joseph Uyen (+1838), catechist; and the humble tailor St. Thomas De (+1839).

Peter Ching (+1646), man of letters and martyr; Joachim Ko (+1646), man of letters and martyr; and Therese Kue (+1781) are counted among the famous members of the Dominican Laity in China.

Maria de Jesus (+1648 c), Sebastiana de Sta. Maria (+1692), Doña Antonia Esguerra (+1700 c), Don Juan de Escano (1710, Admiral of the Philippine Navy), Don Juan Infante de Sotomayor (+1777), Doña Rita Quijano (+1781, marchioness of Montecastro), Doña Maria Tadea de Medrano (+1785), and Rosa de Sta. Maria (+1792) gave luster to the Dominican Laity in the Philippines

* Duties and Benefits

The qualities expected of the members of the Dominican Laity are not excessive; simply that they be practical Catholic, devout, reasonable, prayerful, lovers of the liturgy, loyal to the Pope, conscious of the immense value of their vocation and resolve to persevere in it during their lifetime. Naturally, this requires a profound commitment to the Gospel, high moral standards, avoidance of worldliness, a spirit of self-sacrifice and zeal for the eternal and temporal welfare of their neighbor.” (J. Rubba, O.P., The Third Order of St. Dominic)

The basic duties and obligations of the members of the Dominican Laity are well specified in n.10 of the new Fundamental Constitution although they will have to be spelled out more concretely in the local Directories. A characteristic aspect of the Dominican Laity, very much in keeping with the spirit of the Order, is that they do not bind themselves to the observance of the Rules and Statutes under sin.

Among the main benefits of being a member of the Dominican Laity are the following: 1) to share in the prayers, penances, and good works of all the members of the three branches of the Dominican Family; 2) to grow in sanctification through a way of life highly recommended by the Church and proven effective by many men and women now counted among the saints and the blessed; 3) to experience the solidarity of one of the great universal families in the Church.

Source:

Fr. Eladio Neira, O.P. Lay Dominicans' Manual. San Juan, Manila: Life Today Publications, 1989

Visit Us:

Santuario Del Sto.Cristo Parish

183 F. Blumentritt Street, 

San Juan City, Philippines 1500

(Our meeting is every 3rd Sunday of the month, 8:30am)

Email us: dominicanlaitysanjuanph@gmail.com

Call or Text Us: +639985670280