ALL SAINTS
OF THE
DOMINICAN ORDER

November 7

Dominic knew that to be true and effective preachers of the Word of God his followers ought to be men and women who minister “by word and example.” The first Bull of Approbation of the Order described their primary obligation to be “champions of the faith and true lights of the world.”

It is a source of encouragement, therefore, that many members of the Order of Preachers have been beatified and canonized by the Church. This affirms that these religious who lived the Dominican life as promulgated in their Constitutions now “reign in eternal glory.” They can intercede for their Dominican sisters and brothers and serve as challengers.

Since the year 1234 when Dominic was canonized, many women and men who lived the spirit of his Order have themselves been beatified and/or canonized. As of 1987 the number of Dominican saints is 34, and there are many more blessed. This roster has representation from all the branches of the Order, among them martyrs, confessors, virgins, and widows. There are novices, deacons, bishops, popes, doctors of the Church; there are brothers, friars, nuns sisters, laymen, laywomen. Of this glorious fact we Dominicans are proud.

However, all are aware of the hidden sanctity of thousands of Dominicans, women and men, who lived their religious vows in a saintly way during these more than seven hundred years. Early in the history of the Order these hidden souls were acknowledged as also contributing to the sanctity of the Order. It was the Master General Juan Tomas Rocaberti who in 1670 sought and obtained permission from the Holy See to observe a feast in honor of all the saints of the Dominican Order. As he requested, November 9th was assigned for the celebration of the feast. Today, however, it is celebrated on November 7th.