A stone tablet, written in latin, explains the story however the 150,000 visitors who come to San Millan each year wouldbarely notice it’s significance. The singular Benedictine sacristy shown to tourists was where 21 Augustinian Recollects met in General Chapter 100 years ago. The Papal Nuncio in Spain, Antonio Vico, presided. A life size portrait of him can be found in the antechamber of the Sacristy; another oil painting of Vico looks down on the visitors from the top of the staircase leading to the museum.
That Chapter or Assembly of the Order, that began on 16th July 1908, was of great importance. 79 years had passed since the elected representatives of the friars had been able to meet because of the adverse political circumstances. During that time the Augustinian Recollects were expelled from 40 convents in Spain (1835) and, then at the end of the century (1898) they suffered a blood bath in the Philippines. Paradoxically and providentially, the rejection in the Far East pushed the Order to be involved in the evangelization of the Americas. And there the Order has never stopped growing. That Chapter in San Millan brought to a close a long protracted exceptional era and for the first time, after three quarters of a century it was able to map out a future for the Order.
Curiously enough at this moment another Chapter is taking place in San Millan. It is the XX Chapter of St. Joseph Province whose communities are to be found in Peru, Venezuela together with some in Spain. Curiously 21 religious are taking part, the same number as 100 years ago at that General Chapter. The Province of St. Joseph. Owners of the historic monastery which is a world heritage site, organized the commemorative act for the Centenary.
The first part consisted of two conferences on the historic Chapter of 1908. These were given in the Salon de la Lengua of the Monastery of Yuso, by two Augustinian Recollects, José Manuel Bengoa and Ángel Martínez Cuesta. They were at the main table with Javier Guerra, the Prior General of the Order. The Chapter members together with members of the community were there alongside other religious who had come for the occasion. A group of eight novices with their Master also came from Monteagudo. And the hundred spaces in the public Salon were filled in the main by the people of San Millan and the valley.
Among those present was the President of the Autonomous Region of the Rioja, Pedro Sanz; who, at the beginning of the session, handed over to Fr. General a plaque in recognition of all that the Augustinian Recollects have meant to the history of the Rioja.
Ángel Martínez Cuesta, historian of the Order and curator of the General Archives, explained succinctly the significance of that great assembly. José Manuel Bengoa is the General Chronicler for the Order and also in charge of the Historical Archive of St. Nichola Province. One hundred years ago San Millan belonged to St. Nicholas Province and so his conference was taken from first hand materials. He concentrated on the external history of the Chapter of 1908 and the religious who participated in it. Ángel Martínez Cuesta, historian of the Order and curator of the General Archives then gave his talk. He would explain succinctly the significance of that great assembly of 1908 for the recent history of the Order and its spirituality.
It goes without saying that the academic act was followed by a Eucharist which could not be celebrated in the monastery due to the excavations that are taking place in the monastic church. Everyone left for the Hermitage dedicated to St. Roque, in the centre of San Millan town.
Fr. Javier Guerra was the main celebrant. Beside him there were two ex Generals Frs. Javier Ruiz Pascual and José Javier Pipaón Monreal. And with them the Provincials of St. Joseph’s, José Ramón Pérez, and of St. Nicholas”, Rafael Mediavilla together with some 40 other concelebrants.
The votive Mass of St. Augustine was celebrated. And the Fr. General spoke extensively in his homily of the saintly bishop of Hippo, putting him forward as model and intercessor. The Eucharist ended with a hymn sung in his honour with heartfelt devotion by all the religious.
All present were then invited to share an aperitif in the square in front of the Chapel. People had barely begun to mix and eat when the clouds came over and the rain forced people to find cover in nearby houses and porches.