St. Dominic Church Macau
Sto. Domingo Church
The Church of Sto. Domingo is one of the most beautiful churches in Macau. You will never miss this yellow and green Church right in the middle of Leal Senado plaza of Macau. It is along a junction of a street and an alleyway bearing the same name.
Sto. Domingo is a baroque Filipino style church built by the Spanish Dominican friars in the mid 16th century.
Walkway on the right of the church which leads to the sacristy and the Sacred Museum on the upper floors.
They also built next to the church a monastery which does not exist anymore.
The painting of Chinnery at the right shows the plaza in front of the church. This plaza used to be the marketplace.
The Dominicans eventually managed to set up churches in China.
To know more about Domincans and St. Dominic check out this Catholic Bookstore.
Originally built in wood Sto. Domingo was finally rebuilt in stone in the year 1828. The basic layout is influenced by both Portuguese and Spanish styles. The architecture is Jesuit mannerist.
The Dominicans are well known for their love of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is not surprising therefore to have an image of the Madonna and Child in the reredo or altar piece.
Above is the seal of Sto. Domingo painted on the ceiling. You can find this seal all over the place. Even some of the church vessels and instruments carry this seal.
On the facade of Sto. Domingo is the emblem of the Domincan Order.
There is a bier dating from 1683. There are also some beautiful statutes of St. Caetano, St. Francis and St. Dominic. They have carved ivory heads.
The 31.5m x 8m nave has two 3m wide side aisles. The flooring are ceramic mosaic tiles with floral decorations. The wooden roof are beautifully carved with ventilation lattices.
There is a wooden balconey running along the upper sections of the side walls. The choir loft is above the main doors and from there you can overlook the plaza in front of the church.
The sacristy on the right side of Sto. Domingo church is the only surviving part of the old monastery.
Inside the sacristy is the stairs that lead to the Sto. Domingo Museum on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Here you can find various objects of worship. The right picture shows a life size replica of the Scourging Pillar.
Behind is a life size statue of the Suffering Christ.
About St. Dominic
Founder of the Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominican Order; born at Calaroga, in Old Castile, c. 1170; died 6 August, 1221.
His parents, Felix Guzman and Joanna of Aza, undoubtedly belonged to the nobility of Spain, though probably neither was connected with the reigning house of Castile, as some of the saint's biographers assert. Of Felix Guzman, personally, little is known, except that he was in every sense the worthy head of a family of saints. To nobility of blood Joanna of Aza added a nobility of soul which so enshrined her in the popular veneration that in 1828 she was solemnly beatified by Leo XII.
The example of such parents was not without its effect upon their children. Not only Saint Dominic but also his brothers, Antonio and Manes, were distinguished for their extraordinary sanctity.
Antonio, the eldest, became a secular priest and, having distributed his patrimony to the poor, entered a hospital where he spent his life minis ministering to the sick.
Manes, following in the footsteps of Dominic, became a Friar Preacher, and was beatified by Gregory XVI. more about St. Dominic
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