to do all in their power for the attainment of their ends proposed, and to sacrifice if necessary, their fortunes and their persons; but as their wives might sometimes offer obstacles, St. Dominic induced them to promise never to hinder their husbands, but on the contrary to assist them as far as possible. These Associates took the title of Brethren of the Militia of Jesus Christ. The holy founder desired to distinguish them among other laymen by an exterior badge and assign them some particular obligations. He prescribed to them the color of the habit of his Order; the garments of the men and women, whatever might be their shape, were to be black and white, as emblematic of innocence and humility. He imposed on them the recitation of a prescribed number of Pater and Ave, which were to supply the canonical hours, when they could not assist at the Divine Office.
Later, when our blessed Father St. Dominic had left the earth and soared away to Heaven, and his numerous miracles had decided the Church to inscribe his name in the catalog of her Saints, the Brothers and Sisters of the Militia of Jesus Christ wished to honor their glorious founder, by taking the title of Brothers of Penance of St, Dominic; besides, the merits of St. Dominic and the apostolical labors of his Order had almost banished heresy; exterior combats were no longer necessary, but it remained yet to overcome by penance, the interior enemy of the soul, and hence the new appellation was more becoming than the old one. When the number of the Friar Preachers had augmented, and Peter, (virgin and martyr,) had shone among them as a radiant star, in triumphing over his enemies, still more by his death than by his life, the troop of foxes that wished to ravage the vineyard of the Lord, was completely destroyed, and
