The Offices for the Two Feasts of Saint Dominic

• Main Author: Bergin, Patrick Michael Taylor
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Medieval history; Music; Theology
• ISBN: 9798662439207

The foundation of the Order of Preachers in 1216 by Dominic of Osma (ca. 1173-1221, and the founder’s own meritorious life—exemplifying the virtues of a vir evangelicus for his spiritual descendants—represent a key moment in the religious history of the Middle Ages. Receiving its definitive form in the mid-1250s, the Dominican Rite provided for the liturgical celebration and memorial of its founder with two feasts: the principal feast, 5 August, held on the vigil of his death, and the translation, 24 May, celebrating the transfer of his relics on that date in 1233, during which a miraculous fragrance (odor mirificus) and many healings occurred, speeding along Dominic’s canonization, which occurred on 3 July 1234. The two offices for these feasts developed in stages similar to those of the liturgy of the Rite to which they belonged. In addition to a study of these developments, the present dissertation examines the proper chants of the offices and presents the results in commentaries on each item. This analysis reveals that the texts were carefully constructed, with attention to narrative continuity based on Dominic’s early vitae, allusion to biblical and patristic sources, and the creation of striking poetic effects. Together with their melodies, which like the texts were newly composed, these pieces create an official liturgical memory of Dominic, providing a common formation, education, and understanding of the faith for the members of the Order. Each office emphasizes different aspects of Dominic’s person and his life. The principal feast reminds the assembled brethren of the life, miracles, death, and heavenly glorification of their founder, describing his virtues and works, and presenting him as a model worthy of imitation. The feast of the Translation focuses on the historical translation itself—the disinterment of Dominic’s remains and the miracles accompanying it—highlighting Christ as the source of these wonders and Dominic as heavenly intercessor. The offices’ annual reminders of Dominic nourished the Dominican brethren and helped keep the example of their father, who sought to emulate Christ, at the center of their activity. Modern editions of both the principal office and the Translation, heretofore lacking, appear in the appendices of this dissertation, providing an opportunity for comparison of the musical items of these two offices as they appear in the two most important early sources: Rome, Archivum Generale Ordinis Praedicatorum, “Santa Sabina” XIV L1, and London, British Library, Additional MS 23935. The loss of large portions of the offices caused by the abandonment of the Dominican Rite in 1969 has obscured the vivid image of Dominic that they portray, thereby depriving current Dominicans of an important part of their formation: the constant reminder and inspiration provided by the example of their founder. The present study is itself founded upon the hope that the analyses conducted here will motivate further scholarship considering the divine office in general and individual offices in particular, and that the revelation of the rich depiction of Dominic that the two offices provide might encourage a return to their medieval form.