Our Patroness

The Order of Preachers (Dominicans) has a very special relationship with Mary, the mother of our Christ; we honor and celebrate the dedication, love, and discipleship of the Blessed+ Mother.

Our Blessed+ Mother has such a profound influence on our Order that in about the 13th or 14th century, the rosary was added as an official part of the habit (The Origin of the Rosary, https://www.olrl.org/sacramental/rosary.shtml).  “Dominicans wear their 15-decade, 166-168 bead rosary on the left hip because that was traditionally where soldiers carried their weapon. The rosary then, is a Dominican’s protection and weapon against evil” (opcentral.org).

While hanging the Rosary from our belts, after donning the tunic and belt (cincture), we recite the following prayer:

O God, whose only-begotten Son,
by his life, death, and resurrection,
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that meditating upon the mysteries of the
Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

There are several ways the rosary is worn, however, the most common is with a single loop at the bottom, with the more elaborate as in the picture above.

In the Order of Preachers, Old Catholic we celebrate Mary on her feast day: January 1st; and often dedicate the Month of May to our Blessed+ Mother.  We use the Rosary as a path of contemplation, always seeking our Lord Jesus, the Christ, through the intercession of Mary.