The Timeless Dominic: A Commentary on the O Lumen

At the close of every day, members of the Dominican Order sing the antiphon O Lumen Ecclesiae in honor of its founder and father, St. Dominic. O light of the Church, teacher of truth, rose of patience, ivory of chastity, you freely poured forth the waters of wisdom. Preacher of grace, unite us with the blessed.

The life of each saint is a distinctive manifestation of the universal call to holiness and that of St. Dominic was no exception. The Timeless Dominic sets forth the holiness of Dominic de Guzman, showing how in his dedication to the Truth, his example of patience, his devotion to chastity, and his love of wisdom, this 12th-century mendicant preacher so reflected the radiance of God’s goodness that he merited the title “Light of the Church.” The life of Dominic, as expressed in the O Lumen, is more than a source of platitudes; it is “a pattern of life formed by the gospel for all of us to live our calling faithfully, no matter the state of life.”