Dominican Cross
The Dominican Cross is a symbol that represents the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order. The Cross is a Gyronny Cross, which reflects the characteristic Dominican habit, largely unchanged for 800 years: a long white tunic, contrasting with a black cloak, shoulder cape and/ or scapular. The black and white represents truth over blasphemy. The white also reflects the joy and purity of Christ, and the black reminds servants of the Lord of their humility and obligation for penance.
Leaves
The leaves of our crest represent the leaves of an orange tree.
Santa Sabina Basilica is one of the oldest churches in Rome. In the atrium, by virtue of a small oval window opening into the courtyard of a neighbouring convent, an orange tree can be glimpsed growing in the very spot where, according to Dominican traditions, Saint Dominic planted it around 1220.
It is believed that Saint Dominic brought it back from Spain and planted it. Until then, oranges had never been known to grow in Italy.
For centuries, this tree was described as miraculous, a new plant endlessly springing from the dried-up trunk. Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622) mentioned it in a letter to Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, in which he demonstrated how the tree had become a focus of the followers of Saint Dominic.
Its oranges are said to have been used to make garlands and mementoes for popes and cardinals, and the story goes that the preserved oranges that Catherine of Siena offered to Urban VI in 1379 came from this tree.
As a tangible symbol of St Dominic’s presence, the orange tree has been tenderly nurtured for over 800 years following St Dominic’s death. It has been re-propagated many times.
Truth, Love and Knowledge
The spirit of St Dominic’s is founded on the Dominican tradition of Truth, Love and Knowledge, with the school’s original motto of ‘Veritas’ meaning ‘Truth’.
Truth – ‘Veritas’, the Latin word for ‘truth’, has always been the motto of the Dominicans. In the broadest sense, ‘veritas’ means more than just truth. It means honesty with oneself, being one’s own person before God and before others.
Love – St Dominic was once asked what book he used for his wonderful sermons. He answered, “The only book I use is the book of love.” He always prayed to be filled with true love of neighbour.
Knowledge – St Dominic was a lover of books; he studied diligently to become a priest and a canon. He recruited his novices especially from university settings and sent them to learn and to teach. In a few generations, his spiritual sons would become the greatest of all professors in the world. Every Dominican convent would become a house of learning. Dominic knew that to do what is good, we must know what is true.
Leon Bolding
Principal