How is a Lay Dominican any more a part of the Dominican Order than any one else who attends a church staffed by Dominican friars, and who study Dominican spirituality?
The Fraternities of St. Dominic are part of the Dominican Order because in receiving a person into the Novitiate the Dominican Order makes them a member of the Order. From the beginning of the Order of Preachers, there have always be lay people who associated themselves with the Friars. Some were called to a great involvement in the living out of Dominican spirituality and these were received into our Fraternities of St. Dominic, whose first Rule was approved in 1285 by the Master of the Order. The tertiary make a Profession to the Master of the Order himself at the end of that first year. This Profession is one of a promise to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of Saint Dominic. That is certainly a much greater reality than those who happen to attend a Dominican parish or school. Fr. James M.
