Dominican Order

The Order of Preachers (Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum), after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century in France. Membership in the Order includes the friars,[1] the nuns, the sisters, and lay persons affiliated with the order (formerly known as tertiaries, now cooperator brothers).

A number of other names have been used to refer to both the order and its members.

In England and other countries the Dominicans are referred to as Blackfriars on account of the black cappa or cloak they wear over their white habits.[citation needed] Dominicans were Blackfriars, as opposed to Whitefriars (i.e., the Carmelites) or Greyfriars (i.e., Franciscans). They are also distinct from the Augustinian Friars (the Austin friars) who wear a similar habit.
In France, the Dominicans are also known as Jacobins, because their first convent in Paris bore the name Saint Jacques,[citation needed] and Jacques is Jacobus in Latin.
Their identification as Dominicans gave rise to the pun that they were the Domini canes, or Hounds of the Lord.[2]
Members of the order generally carry the letters O.P. standing for Ordinis Praedicatorum, meaning of the Order of Preachers, after their names.[citation needed]

Founded to preach the gospel and to combat heresy, the order is famed for its intellectual tradition, having produced many leading theologians and philosophers. The Dominican Order is headed by the Master of the Order, who is currently Father Carlos Azpiroz Costa.