The Augustinians date from 1243 when a decree, Incumbit Nobis issued by Pope Innocent IV called several eremetical communities in Tuscany to unite themselves into a single religious order with the Rule and way of life of St. Augustine.Back to Fáilte! (Gaelic for 'Welcome'), to Hello! or to Contents.
The Augustinians in North America.
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The Augustinians date from 1243 when a decree, Incumbit Nobis issued by Pope Innocent IV called several eremetical communities in Tuscany to unite themselves into a single religious order with the Rule and way of life of St. Augustine.
They began to exercise pastoral care around their hermitages and soon spread to Rome and Florence, By 1255 they had spread to England, Spain, France and Germany. In Ireland, they were in Dublin by 1280 and in Dungarvan by 1290.
World famous ex-Augustinians and Augustinians include Martin Luther (Germany - Protestantism) (selected works) and Myles Coverdale (England - translated the first printed English Bible under Henry VIII); St. Rita (Italy - mystic at Cascia monastery), Andrés de Urdaneta (Spain - friar and navigator of the Pacific ocean), Gregor Mendel (Czech - developed modern genetics at his abbey in Brno) (selected works). (Thanks to Rolando García o.s.a. for the Urdaneta link.)
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In 1974 the intermediate General Chapter was celebrated in Dublin, Ireland. The chapter issued The Augustinian Order in the World Today describing Augustinian spirituality in relation to the concerns and aspirations of contemporary men and women.
The Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum was founded in 1969 by the Prior General, Agostino Trapè. It soon became the leading centre of patristic studies in the Church.
1975 saw the beginning of a series of encounters in Rome for members of the Augustinian family. The latest studies on Augustinian theology, spirituality and history were presented by eminent scholars. Through these gatherings sisters and brothers of different cultures were able to meet and discover their common heritage.
Martin Nolan became first Irishman to be elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order in 1983.
1986 was the 1,600th anniversary of the conversion and baptism of St. Augustine. Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic letter, Augustinum Hipponensem for the occasion. The Prior General, Martin Nolan, sent his letter, A cry from the heart: conversion and prayer today to each member of the Order. The Superiors General of all the Augustinians (the Augustinian Recollects, the Discalced Augustinians, and the Augustinian of the Assumptionist) collaborated on the letter The conversion of St. Augustine: light for our journey. It was addressed to the entire Augustinian family.
An international Augustinian youth festival took place with the nuns of the monastery at Lecceto, near Siena, Italy.
Since 1986 the International Augustinian Youth Festival has been celebrated again in Lecceto, in La Vid, Spain and in Abbeyside, Ireland. Preparations are already under way for the next one will be in Münnerstad, Germany in 1998.
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We number just under 3,000 friars in Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, England, Equador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Tanzania, the U.S.A., Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, and Zaire.
About 1,500 women are in Augustinian enclosed convents in Bolivia, Chile, Equador, Italy, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S.A.
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Before all else, live together in harmony, being of one soul and one heart seeking God. (Augustine's Rule I,2).
When he became bishop of Hippo he chose to reside in his episcopal house but continued to live a community life with his clergy. Later a monastery of women was established within the city.
Augustine's ideal spread to other parts of Africa. Several of the brothers were ordained bishops and brought their previous monasticism to other local churches. In fifth-century Africa Augustinianian-inspired monasteries numbered approximately 35.
Between the years 430 and 570 this life-style was carried to Europe by monks and clergy fleeing the persecution of the Vandals.
The abundance of ancient manuscripts of the Rule of St. Augustine shows a constant instant interest in it during the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, it was overshadowed by other rules for more than three centuries, particularly the Rule of St. Benedict. Augusine's Rule appears again in practice in eleventh century Europe as a basis for the reform of monasteries and cathedral chapters. It was adopted by the canons regular of the Abbey of St. Victor in Paris, the Premonstratensioans and the Lateran Canons.
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