Ordo Praedicatorum

Ordo Praedicatorum, also know as the order of Preachers, or the Dominicans, are a mendicant religious order founded in France by He Spanish monk St. Dominic. It's foundation was approved by Pope Honorius III via Papal Bull In 1216. Originally founded to counter the Albegensien, or Cathar heresy prevalent in the region. Members of the order are known as Dominicans and usually have the post nominal letters OP standing for Ordinis Praedicatorum or of the order of Preachers. Members include friars, nuns, sisters as well as laity and secular clergy known as tertiaries, or third order Dominicans. The latin Dominicani also brought about the nicknae "the hounds of the Lord" from the Latin "Domini canis".
The religious of the order wear white habits, women wear black veils and in cold or inclement weather a black cappa or cloak is added to the habit, which in England gave them the name of Blackfriars. The order is devoted to evangelisation and the efforts of most of its members are devoted to education and preaching. With the exception of nuns who live contemplative lives all members are expected to preach and teach in every context from the university to the mission.
As one of the Catholic Church's foremost forces of evangelisation, the Dominicans have a mostly friendly rivalry with the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) frequently taking pot shots at them for being too abstract and intellectual while also sloppy with liturgical practices. There is some truth to the phrase, "as nervous as a Jesuit on Holy Week". While Dominicans fiercely defend their own rite and are meticulous ensuring they say the black and do the red.
Today the order has monasteries, convents, houses, schools and universities in every continent and most countries their distinctive habits can be found in Rome, colonial missions and everywhere in between. All for the Greater Glory of God.

Type

Religious, Monastic Order