The Return of a Lost Tradition

A Complete Latin Dominican Breviary Restored from the Medieval Tradition

A complete Dominican breviary restored from the manuscripts, presented in a remarkably compact volume designed for everyday prayer. Based upon the medieval prototype of Blessed Humbert of Romans, this edition reconstructs the Dominican Office in a compact volume designed for everyday prayer. Researched, compiled, and typeset entirely by one person, this project represents a personal labor of scholarship and devotion.

Preview PDF Available Soon GitHub
Breviary

Why a Dominican Breviary?

For centuries, the Dominican Office formed the daily prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great, and generations of Dominican friars. Yet today, complete editions of this tradition are extraordinarily difficult to obtain.

This breviary restores the medieval Totum - the complete Office for the entire liturgical year - into a single practical volume, faithful to the prototype of Blessed Humbert of Romans.

Rediscover the Dominican Office

Pray the complete medieval Office as generations of Dominicans once did.

Prayer Without Barriers

Created for everyday use rather than expensive collector editions.

Historically Faithful

Carefully restored from medieval sources while remaining practical for modern readers.

A Breviary Rooted in Tradition

Based upon the 12th-century prototype of Blessed Humbert of Romans, this edition restores the Dominican Office according to the tradition that formed generations of Dominican saints, theologians, and preachers.

The Breviary and Psalter according to the Ecclesiastical Office of the Dominican Order (Order of Preachers). This specific edition was restored and printed based on the prototype of the venerable Master Humbert of Romans, excerpted from the historic Codex of Santa Sabina XIV L1 in Rome.

Medieval Dominican manuscript
A historical manuscript witness to the Dominican liturgical tradition.

The Making of the Edition

The Office has been carefully reconstructed from historical sources to preserve the structure, prayers, calendar, and character of the medieval dominican tradition.

Manuscript Tradition

Based upon the Dominican liturgical tradition preserved in medieval manuscripts and the 12th-century prototype of Blessed Humbert of Romans.

Historical Restoration

The Office has been carefully reconstructed to preserve the structure, prayers, and character of the medieval Dominican tradition.

Traditional Typography

Designed with careful attention to readability, page layout, and the tradition of liturgical books.

Open Development

Created using LaTeX with source files available publicly, allowing others to study, adapt, and contribute to future development.

A Single-Handed Labor

From historical research and liturgical reconstruction to LaTeX typesetting, page design, and preparation for publication, this entire edition has been created by one person.

Sources & Editorial Method

This edition was reconstructed from historical Dominican sources with attention to the textual and liturgical tradition preserved in the earliest forms of the Dominican Office.

Codex of Santa Sabina XIV L1

The restoration is based upon the Dominican liturgical tradition preserved in Codex Santa Sabina XIV L1, associated with the 1256 prototype of Blessed Humbert of Romans.

Historical Dominican Editions

Historical Dominican liturgical editions were consulted and compared in reconstructing the structure, calendar, and contents of the Office.

Project Documentation

Research notes, source materials, and the LaTeX source are made available publicly as part of the project's open development.

Why This Edition is Different

This edition is guided by five core values that shape every aspect of its restoration, design, and publication.

More than a reproduction, this edition is a complete reconstruction of the Dominican Office: restored from historical sources, redesigned according to the Humbertine tradition, and created as a practical companion for daily prayer.

Manuscript-Based Restoration

Reconstructed from the historic Codex of Santa Sabina XIV L1, preserving the Dominican Office according to the tradition of Blessed Humbert of Romans.

Accessibility

Rather than reproducing scanned pages, this edition was completely and typeset from the ground up for clarity, readability, and practical prayer.

A Complete Totum

The entire Dominican Office for the liturgical year contained in one compact volume, designed to accompany daily prayer.

Open Source Development

Built entirely in LaTeX with source files publicly available, allowing future study, collaboration, and improvement.

Utility

Returning the breviary to its original purpose: a durable, practical companion for the daily prayer of clergy, religious, and laity.

The Volume

Cover of the Dominican Breviary

The complete Dominican Office, presented in a compact 5" × 7.5" paperback volume designed for everyday prayer.

Liturgical Calendar

The calendar preserves the medieval Dominican cycle of feasts established under Blessed Humbert of Romans, including many celebrations no longer found in the modern Roman calendar.

Preview Calendar

Complete Office

Everything required for the daily Divine Office.

Entire Year

The complete liturgical cycle in one volume.

Traditional Layout

Designed for prayer, not merely reference.

Edition Details

Tradition

The Venerable Traditional Dominican Rite

Source

Based upon the 12th-century prototype of Blessed Humbert of Romans, the Fifth Master General of the Order of Preachers.

Language

Latin

Contents

Complete Dominican Office for the entire liturgical year.

Creation

Independently researched, compiled, typeset, and designed by a single creator.

Format

Paperback print edition available through Amazon.

Dimensions

5" x 7.5" (127 x 191 mm)

Pages

Approximately 560 pages.

Availability

The first edition is currently in preparation. A printed edition will be available through Amazon, with a free PDF preview and open-source LaTeX files available on GitHub.

Preview PDF Amazon (Coming Soon) GitHub

Open Source

Breviary is developed openly. The complete LaTeX source is available on GitHub, allowing scholars, clergy, and lay faithful to study, improve, and adapt the project for future Dominican breviaries.

View on GitHub

Support the Project

Whether through prayer, sharing, feedback, or contributions, this project depends on a community dedicated to preserving the Dominican liturgical tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Totum?

A Totum is a complete breviary containing everything required for praying the Divine Office throughout the liturgical year.

Is it open source?

Yes. The complete LaTeX source is available publicly.

What calendar does it use?

some calendar.

What tradition does it follow?

s.

How is it different from existing breviaries?

It's better.

What is the Dominican Rite?

It's dominican :D.

Who is Blessed Humbert of Romans?

V cool guy.

Is this approved for liturgical use?

For laypersons, all liturgical prayer does not requre approval. As Pope Benedict XVI once said, "What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church's faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place." Clerics or persons living under a rule should consult their competent religious superiors.

Will there be a Daily Ordo?

Yes. A companion Daily Ordo is currently in Development and will be released separately. It will provide the proper Office for each day according to the Humbertine Dominican calendar and will complement the breviary.

Isn't a complete breviary too large to carry?

No. Despite containg the complete Office for the entire liturgical year, this edition is designed in a compact 5" x 7.5" format. Careful typography and page layout allow it to remain a practical, everyday companion rather than an oversized reference volume.