Customer Reviews

The Dominican Tradition (Spirituality in History)

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The motto of the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers, is "to praise, to bless, and to preach." In "The Dominican Tradition," Thomas C. McGonigle, O.P. and Phyllis Zagano, Ph.D. explore the ways that charism has been expressed throughout the centuries by highlighting sixteen persons who exemplify Dominican thought and action.

The introductory essay focuses on providing a general background on the Order of Preachers. McGonigle roots Dominic's vision of a new order dedicated to living an apostolic life of preaching, poverty, and service firmly in the historical events of his day. The thirteenth century was ripe for Christian renewal. There was a need for "preachers to be the living reflection of the Gospel they proclaimed." He used the Rule of St. Augustine as a guideline for his order. A copy of this Rule is included as the last chapter in "The Dominican Tradition."

McGonigle and Zagano then proceed to provide short biographical sketches of the Dominicans they have chosen to highlight. Each biography is followed by excerpts from one or two primary sources either written by or about the person in question. Included in these profiles are persons who anyone with a nodding acquaintance with Dominican history would expect to encounter: St. Dominic, Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, and in more recent history, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop. There are some surprises in the mix, however, such as Mechtild of Magdeburg, Henri Dominique Lacordaire, and the current Master of the Order of Preachers, Timothy Radcliffe.

The biographies are succinct and well-written, providing worthy introductions to these persons of note. The primary sources are also well chosen, with the possible exception of that which is included for John of Fiesole, better known as the famous painter Fra Angelico. This man spoke through his art. While the address of Pope Pius XII at an opening of an exhibition of his paintings at the Vatican in 1955 does provide insight into the man and his work, it might have been more helpful to have included a plate or two of his artwork instead.*

Perhaps the best primary source as it relates to the topic at hand is an essay by Edward Schillebeeckx composed in 1983 on Dominican spirituality. Schillebeeckx writes "A definitive all-round definition of Dominican spirituality cannot be given. You cannot make a final judgment on a story which is still going strong. We can only trace some of the main lines in the plot of the story." This is what McGonigle and Zagano attempted to do with this volume and they have succeeded in their quest. While certainly not a comprehensive study of the topic, it provides a wonderful introduction into how Dominican spirituality has manifested itself over the course of the past 800 years. "The Dominican Tradition" would make a great college text for a class exploring various strains of spirituality. It would also be useful as a starting point for anyone seeking to know more about the Dominicans and their impact on the world.


* Upon reading this review, Dr. Zagano pointed out to me that the cover illustration is by Fra Angelico.

Written by Thomas C. McGonigle (director of the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies) and Phyllis Zagano (teacher for the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Hofstra University), The Dominican Tradition: Spirituality in History is a history of the spiritual contributions and legacy of great preachers of the Dominican tradition, from Saint Dominic (1171-1221) himself to Thomas Aquinas, Bartolome de Las Casas, to modern-day spiritual thinker and seeker Timothy Radcliffe. A total of sixteen individuals are profiled; The Dominican Tradition pays especial note to each one's theological and spiritual writings, insights, beliefs and achievements. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Dominican Tradition provides an excellent introduction to core Dominican spiritual values, and offers unmistakable evidence that the Dominican legacy is as relevant today as it was centuries in the past.

McGonigle lays out the history of the Dominican order by portraits of its most prominent and in many cases influential spiritual leaders from its founder St. Dominic in the early 13th century through Thomas Aquinas, Meister Eckhart, Catherine of Siena, and others to the still living Edward Schillebeeckx and Timothy Radcliffe. The portraits include not only biographical facts, highlights of spiritual interests, and summaries of insights, but also representative selections from writings of the 16 exceptionally spiritual individuals through the centuries. The portrayals demonstrate that "the breadth and universality of Dominic's vision made it possible to incorporate a variety of men and women into the Dominican family." While the intent and style is simply an introduction to the length and continuity of the history and the facets of the spirituality inspired by the precepts and the regimen originating with St. Dominic, they offer focus and direction for contemporary individuals. McGonigle teaches history at Providence College, where he is also director of Catholic and Dominican Studies.

The introductory essay to this anthology by co-editor Thomas McGonigle, OP, is quite good. But the selections, which after all are the heart of an anthology, leave so much to be desired that one can't help but wonder how they were chosen.

For example, Fra Angelico and Martin de Porres are included in the volume, even though we have no writing from them and the selections under their names are written by second parties. Footnotes are omitted throughout, even when they were included in the original work. Timothy Radcliffe's piece (which, by the way, is far and away the best in the collection) is the most glaring example of this editorial omission. Other selections are too long, especially the piece by Schillebeeckx, and some--like the ones from Bartolome de Las Casas and Rose Hawthorne Lathrop--too short.

Just as disconcerting are the Dominicans who've been left out of the collection. Startlingly, there's nothing from Johannes Tauler. Other candidates that might've been included would be Vincent McNabb, Gerald Vann, Jordan of Saxony (although it's true that his version of Dominic's Nine Ways of Prayer is printed--but typically without attribution), or Bede Jarrett. Finally, the writings anthologized from the authors who do make it into the volume aren't always on the mark when it comes to Dominican spirituality. What's the purpose of including Albertus Magnus on Dionyius the Areopagite? This is arcane mystical theology that likely means nothing to someone not already familiar with the Areopagite. And surely there are better selections from Yves Congar than his writings on pneumatology and ecumenism. These two areas are, of course, where he made his mark. But they don't speak directly to Dominican spirituality. Only the final short selection from him included in the volume seems appropriate.

All in all, I'm very sorry to say, a disappointing effort, and certainly not up to the usual standards of publisher Liturgical Press. Readers interested in Dominican spirituality would be well advised to turn instead to Praying with the Dominicans, ed. John Vidmar or Early Dominicans: Selected Writings, ed. Simon Tugwell (another Dominican, by the way, who could've been included in this volume). Both are published by Paulist.

Zagano selectively chooses aspects of Dominican spirituality that she likes in order to present an incomplete and, conveniently enough, in the end, a vergingly heterodox treatment of Dominican spirituality. For something more orthodox, I recommend William A. Hinnebusch's Dominican Spiritulity: Principles and Practice, which book may be found online here: [...]