St. Dominic's Orange Tree

[Luigi]

I found this on the blog by the Dominican nuns at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin, TX. I'd never heard of St. Dominic's orange tree(s) before. I"ve been to Santa Sabina, and I've seen orange trees there, but nobody said they were planted by St. Dominic - or were descended from the tree he planted. It's a very charming custom - I hope it's true. 

 

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According to legend, Saint Dominic planted an orange tree when he was in Rome, at the Dominican headquarters at Santa Sabina. Maybe he remembered such trees from his childhood in Spain or maybe he liked oranges. We're not sure! There are many descendants of the original tree at Dominican priories and monasteries and motherhouses, and we have such a tree at our monastery. The seed for this tree came to us from the Houston Dominican sisters who have several of "St. Dominic's orange trees" at their motherhouse. It was grown in a pot until it was strong enough to be transplanted into the ground, and now it is as you see it here!

 

[AnneLine]

I believe that the Summit Dominicans have one as well -- Sr. Mary Catharine???

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

We do! Our tree is from an actual SHOOT of the original tree at S. Sabina in Rome, not a seed. It is 134 years old as it was brought by the sisters in France who came here to found the monastery in Newark.

The tree is there at S. Sabina and the tradition is that S. Dominic planted it. http://http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/citrusplaces/StDominicsOrange.html It is a symbol of the of Order and it's many branches.