Who We Are
Regina Pacis Group of Lay Dominicans
We are a group of ordinary men and women who want to live extraordinary lives for the glory and honor of God. We are Catholics who come from all walks of life seeking to conform ourselves to the image of Christ by following the teachings of the Church and the prayer and spiritual life of Saint Dominic in all we do.
The Lay Dominican Story
In the early 1200′s, Saint Dominic was a priest who radiated a life of simplicity, purity, and love for God that resonated with such fervor that people wondered if Christ had been born again. At this time, he happened to be assigned the direction of a community of nine Catholic women in Pouille who had separated from the Albegensians. They were a heretical group that believed that the soul is good, and the body is evil, and that man be purified and must not indulge in any physical pleasures. He cared for their earthly needs and directed their spiritual formation and formed them into a community of nuns, who were the first church-sanctioned Dominicans. In a short time, a large body of laity who were living a life of piety found themselves attracted to St. Dominic and grouped themselves around his rising Order of Preachers and, constituted on their own, a “third order.” The priests were referred to as the first order, and the cloistered nuns, the second order. Third order Dominicans shared, with the first and second, in the same spirituality, the same superiors, and even aspects of the same habit such as the scapular.
From the fifteenth century on, the third order of Dominicans consists of men or women and can be divided into two categories, regulars and seculars. Regulars live in community, wear the habit externally, and take a vow to live according to the Dominican Rule. Seculars, whether married or single, cleric or lay, live in the world but privately follow the Dominican Rule, pray part of the Divine Office, wear some symbol of the Dominican habit, and make a solemn promise to live according to the Dominican Rule adapted to their life as Lay Dominicans.
In 1968 the Second Vatican Council further defined and enhanced the role of the lay vocation, stating clearly that the primary role of the laity is to transform the world. Vatican II caused the various third orders to revise their Rules and Statutes, so the new Rules and Statues are steeped in the doctrine of Vatican II.
Over the years, the Dominican Order has recognized the equal importance of all the types of vocations and have opted to change the designation of ”third order seculars” to Lay Dominicans, to avoid the possible implications of levels of importance of “first, second, and third orders.” The Lay Dominican Order is truly an Order; Lay Dominicans are truly religious in the medieval sense. They have their origin in the desire of the laity for a radical, evangelical style of life.
Mission Statement
The Regina Pacis Group seeks to make Christ known and loved in our parishes and local communities by spreading the Good News of the Gospel through a Dominican Spirituality.
We Accomplish our Mission by……
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Having an active prayer life which includes daily meditation of the Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Holy Rosary, regular reception of the Eucharist and divine contemplation.
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Educating ourselves in the teaching of Christ and His Church. This is accomplished by studying the Scriptures, documents of the Church, writings of the Doctors of the Church, with a particular emphasis on Dominican saints.
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Studying the writings of contemporary spiritual and theological writers loyal to the traditional teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
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Forming bonds of Christian friendship with our brothers and sisters who are striving to live the Gospel message in today’s world
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Participating in corporal works of mercy to help build-up the body of Christ
Vision Statement
Members of the Regina Pacis group seek to become lay evangelists in order to assist our local pastors in their spiritual work in our parishes in accord with our station in life.
Dominicans are Contemplatives
Contemplation is a form of wordless prayer in which one’s mind and heart focuses on God’s greatness and goodness. It is the means by which we look upon Jesus and the mysteries in His life with faith and love. In contemplation we are able to develop an intimate relationship with God.
One of the key elements of contemplation is silence. In silence, we learn to ignore our mental chatter and rest in God’s quiet presence in order to thank Him for everything He has done for us. Dominican contemplation is different from those of other religious orders, in that we are called to share the fruits of our thankfulness with others. Dominicans are contemplative preachers!
Why Should you Become a Dominican?
Joining the Regina Pacis Lay Dominican group will enhance your spiritual life by:
- Guiding you in your walk with Christ through daily meditation
- Helping you to focus more clearly on Jesus by adding discipline to your prayer life
- Providing a community of brothers and sisters with a common spirit and love for Christ
- Instructing you on ways to advance in holiness and intimacy with Christ
Contact Us
We meet the third Saturday of every month from 9:15AM – 11:00AM (Formation is from 11:00AM – 12:15PM) at:
Queen of Peace Catholic Church
6455 SW Highway 200
Ocala, FL 34476
If you’d like more information about joining the Regina Pacis Lay Dominicans please use this form.
Links to Dominican Lay Groups
https://www.op.org/ Main Office in Rome
http://laydomsouth.org/ Southern Province in U.S.A
http://oplaitywest.org/ Western Province in U.S.A
http://www.laydominicancentral.org/ Central Province in U.S.A
https://laydominicans.org/ Eastern Province in U.S.A
Some Well-Known Dominicans