Spiritual Corner - About the Lay Dominicans (I)

The Lay Dominican Order can be explained as a laity organization. Despite the fact that their members lead their lives with ordinary people, they participate in the consecrated life and apostolic mission of the Order of Preachers. At the same time, they follow the guidance of the Dominicans, observe the Rule of the Order as approved by the Church, seeking for the fulfillment of holiness. Though the phrase “taking vows” frequently appear in their documents and literature, yet they never vow openly or in private, therefore, they can never be regarded as consecrated people, but in a wider sense, they can still be regarded as consecrated people living in the temporal world. Superficially, this organization is no
different from the other church groups, yet they have special status as lay members in the legality of a religious order. Thus, they are more universal than other church groups. As this organization is formed by the laity, male or female, single or married, their members can actively live a gospel life in the temporal world, and therefore, become one of the tangible symbols of the Gospels.

The Lay Dominican Order was founded with the effort and zeal of Munio de Zamora, the seventh Master General of the Dominican Order. He approved of the first Lay Dominican Rule in 1285. In fact, its origin can be traced back to 12th century, when there were movements of the penitents formed around St. Dominic.

At the Avila general meeting in 1986, the Order accepted the formation of these communities, and granted full status to them as members of the Order in the position of Lay Dominicans. The Order hoped that the spirit of such flexibility and accommodation as well as the free and generous attitudes of the Order would attract young people to join the apostolic mission and life style of the Dominicans. These communities must first plan their lives in accordance with the “Fundamental Constitution” of Montreal. These communities must have concrete evangelization and life plans and must tally with the charism of St. Dominic, the emissary of the Gospels. These newly established Lay Dominican chapters must
be approved by the local Provincial Masters.

Yours,
Sr. Magdalena Yang
<Based on writings of Fr. P. Nerira OP >