Solemnity of the Translation of the Relics of St. Dominic

On May 24, the Dominican Order celebrates the translation of the relics of St. Dominic.  That is, we remember the day in 1233 when, during a General Chapter of the Order in Bologna, the interred body of St. Dominic was moved in order to allow the faithful to honor him more easily.  More than 300 friars were present to celebrate this important day.  In one of his letters, Bl. Jordan of Saxony, describes the event:

But then the wonderful day came for the translation of the relics of one who was an illustrious doctor in his lifetime. Present were the venerable Archbishop of Ravenna, surrounded by bishops and a large number of prelates, as well as by a vast multitude of people of different languages who gave remarkable witness to their devotion. Present also was the Bolognese militia, which would not let this holy body, that they considered to be in their safekeeping, be snatched from them. As for the brethren, they were anxious: although they had nothing to fear, they were seized with misgivings lest the body of Saint Dominic, which had lain in a mean tomb exposed to water and heat for such a long period of time, should be found eaten with worms and giving off a foul odor in the same way that might be expected with other corpses, thus destroying the devotion of the people for so great a man. Nonetheless the bishops approached devoutly. The stone that was firmly cemented to the sepulcher was removed with instruments of iron. Within the tomb was a wooden coffin, just as it had been placed there by the venerable Pope Gregory when he was bishop of Ostia. The body had been buried there, and a small hole remained in the top of the coffin. The upper part of the coffin was moved a little bit. As soon as the stone was taken away, the body gave forth a wonderful odor through the opening; its sweetness astonished those present, and they were filled with wonder at this strange occurrence. Everyone shed tears of joy, and fear and hope rose in all hearts. We ourselves also smelled the sweetness of this perfume, and we bear witness to what we have seen and smelt. Eager with love, we remained devotedly near the body of Dominic for a long time, and we were unable to sate ourselves with this great sweetness. If one touched the body with a hand or a belt or some other object, the odor immediately attached itself to it for a long period of time. The body was carried to the marble sepulcher where it would rest—it and the perfume that it poured forth. This marvelous aroma which the holy body emitted was evidence to all how much the saint had truly been the good odor of Christ.

In the Basilica of Santa Sabina, which was originally given to St. Dominic and the Order in the 13th century, this day is celebrated as a Solemnity, in honor of St. Dominic’s service there.  Each year, Dominican friars and sisters from all over Rome gather to participate in the Mass.  After Mass, the procession of friars stopped first at the side chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, to sing together the Dominican antiphon to St. Dominic, the O Lumen.  As has been the custom, a priest of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) celebrates the Mass and preaches to the assembled Dominicans.  This year, we were happy to receive an American Franciscan from Chicago.  Following Mass was a festive reception in one of the cloister gardens of Santa Sabina.  Pictures of the event are below.