The Rule

The Historical Development of the Rule

The Dominican Laity originated in its present form with the promulgation of the first Rule under
Munio de Zamora, Master of the Order in 1285. The spiritual origin of the Laity resided within the
penitential movements associated with Saint Dominic, who gathered around himself groups of
Laity for apostolic work and spiritual and material defense of the Church. The Laity has existed
(under various names) as long as the Dominican Order itself, and has always performed specific
functions and collaborated closely with the other branches of the Dominican Family.
There have been five Rules for the Dominican Laity since the foundation of the Order. The first
was that promulgated by Munio de Zamora in 1285, for the Brothers and Sisters of Penance of
Saint Dominic. The Rule of Munio, slightly amended, received papal approval in 1405. This Rule
survived for centuries, serving the laity and being adopted for other branches of the Dominican
Family.

The second Rule, adapted to the new Code of Canon Law in 1917, was approved in 1932 under
Master Louis Theissling, with the title: Rule of the Secular Third Order of Saint Dominic.
After Vatican II, there existed a need for revising or updating the 1932 Rule; accordingly, the third
Rule was approved in 1964. However, the General Chapter of River Forest in 1968 proposed a
fourth Rule, which was promulgated by Master Aniceto Fernandez in 1969 and approved on an
experimental basis by the Sacred Congregation for Religious in 1972 under the title: Rule of the
Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic. With this title, reference to Third Order had disappeared, to be
confirmed by legislation of the 1974 General Chapter at Madonna Dell ‘Arco, abolishing such
terms as First, Second and Third Order.

Finally, after the promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law and the Bologna Document on the
Dominican Family, the General Chapter of Rome that same year, 1983, commissioned the
Master of the Order to hold an International Congress of the Dominican Laity in order to renew
and adapt its Rule. This, the fifth Rule, The Rule of the Lay Chapters of Saint Dominic, was
approved by the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes in January 1987 and
promulgated by Master Damien Byrne on January 28, 1987.

The Rule of the Lay Chapters of St. Dominic

I. The Fundamental Constitution of Lay Dominicans

(Laity in the Church)


1. Among the disciples of Christ, men and women living in the world, by virtue of their Baptism

and Confirmation, have been made participants in the prophetic, priestly and royal office of

our Lord Jesus Christ. They are called to make Christ’s living presence to people so that

“the divine message of salvation be made known and accepted by all people throughout

the world” (Apost. Act. 4, 3).


(Dominican Laity)


2. Some of these disciples of Christ, moved by the Holy Spirit to live a life according to the

spirit and charism of Saint Dominic, are incorporated into the Order through a special

promise according to their appropriate statutes.

(Dominican Family)

3. They are united in communities, and they constitute with other groups of the order, one

Family (cf. Constitutions of the Order of Friars Preachers, [LCO], #141).

(Distinctive character of Dominican Laity)


4. They are accordingly distinguished both by their own spirituality and by their service to God

and neighbor in the church. As members of the Order, they participate in its apostolic

mission through prayer, study and preaching according to the state proper to the laity.

(Apostolic Mission)



5. Following the examples of Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine of Siena and our predecessors

who illumined the life of the Order and the Church, and strengthened by their familial [fn.

“fraternal] communion, they bear witness above all to their own Faith, listen to the needs of

their contemporaries and serve the Truth.


6. They carefully attend to the principal goals of the Church’s contemporary apostolate, striving

in a special way to manifest true mercy for all who are suffering, to defend freedom and to

promote justice and peace.


7. Inspired by the charism of the Order, they are mindful that apostolic activity emanates from

an abundance of contemplation.


II. Life of the Chapters

(Life of the Chapters)


8. To the best of their ability, they should strive, to live in true familial communion in

accordance with the spirit of the Beatitudes in every circumstance, by performing works of

mercy and sharing what they have with members of the chapter, especially the poor and the sick, and by offering suffrages for the dead. In this way all may ever have one heart and one mind in God (Acts 4:32).

9. Collaborating in the apostolate with brothers and sisters of the Order, members should

participate actively in the life of the Church, always prepared to work with other apostolic

associations.


10. To advance in their proper vocation, which inseparably joins the apostolic and the

contemplative , Lay Dominicans draw their strength from these principle sources:

a. Listening to the Word of God and reading the Sacred Scripture, especially the New

Testament;

b. Daily participation as much as possible, in the celebration of the liturgy and of the

Eucharist sacrifice;

c. Frequent celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation;

d. Celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours in union with the entire Dominican Family, as well

as private prayer, such as meditation and the Marian Rosary;

e. Conversion of heart according to the spirit and practice of evangelical asceticism;

f. Assiduous study of revealed truth and unwavering reflection on contemporary problems,

under the light of Faith;

g. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to the tradition of the Order, to our Holy

Father Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena;

h. Periodical spiritual retreats.



(Formation)


11. The purpose of Dominican formation is to form true adults in the Faith, capable of accepting,

celebrating, and proclaiming the Word of God. Each province is responsible for establishing

a program of:

a. progressive formation for beginners;

b. ongoing formation for all members, even for those living apart from a chapter..


12. Every Dominican must be prepared to preach the Word of God. Through this preaching,

Christians, baptized and strengthened by the Sacrament of confirmation, exercise their

prophetic office.

In our present world, preaching of the Word of God must encompass in a special way the

dignity of the human person, as well as defend the sacredness of life and family . The

Dominican vocation also includes the promotion of Christian unity and dialogue with both

non-Christians and non-believers.

13. The principal sources of Dominican formation are:

 the Word of God and theological reflection,

 liturgical prayer,

 the history and tradition of the Order,

 more recent documents of the Church and Order,

 awareness of the signs of our times.


14. To be incorporated into the Order, members must make profession, which is a formal

promise to live according to the spirit of Saint Dominic, following the way of life prescribed by

the Rule.

This promise is either temporary or perpetual. The following or a substantially similar formula

is to be used for making a promise:

To the honor of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and of Saint Dominic, I ( name )promise before you the President of this Chapter and (

name ) the religious assistant, in place of the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers, that

I will live according to the Rule of the Laity of Saint Dominic for (three years or my entire

life).


Ill. Organization and Government of the Chapters


15. The Chapter is the appropriate means for nourishing and developing each member’s

dedication to his or her own vocation. The frequency of meetings varies among chapters.

Faithful attendance demonstrates the fidelity of each member.


16. The admission of candidates is entrusted to a responsible lay person, according to

prescriptions established by the Directory as to qualifications and timetable. Following an

affirmative vote of the Chapter Council, the responsible layperson carries out the admission

process , together with the religious assistant, using the rite determined by the directory.


17. After a period of probation determined by the Directory and with a favorable vote of the

Chapter Council , the responsible layperson, together with the religious assistant, receives

the profession, either temporary or perpetual.


(Jurisdiction of the Order and Autonomy of the Chapters)


18. Chapters are under the jurisdiction of the Order; nevertheless, they enjoy that autonomy

proper to the laity by which they govern themselves.

(In the whole Order)


19. a) The Master of the Order as successor of Saint Dominic and head of the entire Dominican

Family presides over all the Chapters in the world. It is his responsibility to preserve the

integral spirit of the Order within the chapters, to establish practical norms as needed for

specific times and places and to promote the spiritual good and apostolic zeal of the

members.

b) The Promoter General represents the Master of the Order for all chapters and transmits

their proposals to the Master or the General Chapter.

(In the Province)


20. a) The Provincial presides over the Chapters within the territorial limits of his Province and,

with the consent of the Local Ordinary, establishes new Chapters.

b) The Provincial Promoter (brother or sister) represents the Provincial and is a member of

the Lay Provincial Council with full rights. The Provincial Promoter is appointed by the

Provincial Chapter or by the Prior Provincial with his Council, after the Lay Provincial Council

has been heard.

c) A Lay Provincial Council, whose members are elected by the chapters, is established in

the territory of its Province. The Lay Provincial Council is regulated according to the norms

defined by the Provincial Directory. The Lay Provincial Council elects the Provincial

President.


(In the Chapters)


21. a) A local Chapter is governed by a President with a Council, who together assume full

responsibility for its direction and administration.

b) The Council is elected for a specific term and in the manner established by the Provincial

Directory. The Council elects a President from among its members.

c) A religious Assistant (brother or sister) aids members in doctrinal matters and the spiritual

life. This religious Assistant is appointed by the Prior Provincial after he has first heard the

Provincial Promoter and the local chapter Council.


(National and International Councils)


22. a) Where several Provinces of the Order are present within the same nation, a National

Council may be instituted according to the norms established by particular Directories.

b) If judged opportune, an International Council may be formed in a similar fashion after

consultation with the Chapters of the entire Order.

23. Chapter Councils can send their proposals and petitions to a Provincial Chapter of the Friars

Preachers. Likewise Lay Provincial Councils and National Councils can send proposals and

petitions to a General Chapter. Representative Lay Dominicans should be invited to these

Provincial or General chapters to treat matters which concern the laity.

(The Statutes of the Lay Dominicans)


24. The statutes governing Lay Dominicans are:

a) The Rule of Lay Chapters of St. Dominic.

b) General declarations, whether of the Master of the Order or of General Chapters.

c) Particular Directories.


To complete the legislative work concerning the Lay Chapters of St. Dominic, we approve and

promulgate the following “General Declarations of the Rule of the Lay Chapters of Saint Dominic”

by the authority which we hold. Thus the observance of the Rule shall be attained more easily

and with greater spiritual fruitfulness.

Given at Rome, on February 16, 1987

Fr. J. Martin, O.P. Fr. Damian Byrne, O.P.

Secretary Master of the Order