Who We AreThe Order of Preachers was formed in 1216 by Dominic de Guzman for the purpose of spreading the Gospels around the world and among every people. The Order of Preachers is a worldwide family made up of branches: Friars (priests and brothers), Cloistered Nuns, Apostolic sisters, and Laity. Each family branch is considered an equal member of the Dominican Family with a particular role that supports the overall mission of the Order--to preach the Gospels. "There are many ways of being a Dominican. From the beginning of the Order, men and women felt moved to help Dominic’s mission of preaching and join in as they could while still living with their families or continuing in their way of life. Already by the end of the thirteenth century, these friends of the Order and groups of lay people who resonated with Dominican spirituality were invited to become officially aggregated to the Order by adopting a Rule of Life approved by the Master of the Order and suited to their circumstances.
The Lay Dominicans, Denver Chapter is an integral part of the Dominican Family of priests, friars, nuns and sisters. Each member has professed a lifelong devotion to living in the spirit of St. Dominic by preaching the Gospels in the Catholic faith. In so living in this spirit, we preach, not in words, but through our actions and interactions with others as well as serve the Church, St. Dominic Parish and other parishes in the Denver metropolitan area. Please visit Dominican Central for an overview of our Provincial and worldwide organization.
Our HistorySt. Dominic de Guzman, a Spanish priest serving as a canon to the Bishop of Osma at the beginning of the 13th century, discovered rampant heresy in the south of France. He and the Bishop of Osma, Diego de Azevedo, were passing through on a mission to retrieve a Scandinavian princess for the son of the king of Spain. De Guzman was moved with pity at the great number of souls in danger and desired to preach among them for the purpose of converting them back to the true faith. He formed a band of priests and began establishing houses throughout the south of France for this purpose. In those days, priests were attached to cathedrals and monasteries. They did not wander the land. If they traveled, they rode horseback while wearing their fine garments befitting their special rank. Dominic and his band walked from place to place and wore rough clothing similar to that of the poor to whom they preached. In 1216, Dominic received authority from the Vatican to form an Order of Preachers for the purpose of spreading the Gospels around the world among every people. Today, the Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, is a worldwide family made up of Friars (priests and brothers), Cloistered Nuns, Apostolic Sisters and Laity. Each branch is considered an equal member of the Dominican Family, and each has a particular role that ultimately supports the mission of the Order, which is to preach the Gospels. MissionThe mission of the Order emanates directly from St. Dominic's own experience and his calling as a priest of the Church. With the Albigensian heresy throughout south France, many came to believe that flesh and physical substance was evil. Dominic sought to restore people back to the faith and the only way to do that was through preaching the Gospel--hence the mission of the Order. Dominic sent friars into the world to spread the word of the Gospels and developed the four pillars that are now the foundation of the Dominican way of life. |
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