Last 12 October, the town square of Estollo (La Rioja, Spain) swarmed with crowds who came to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Augustinian Recollect Serafín Prado (1910-1987). Aside from the townspeople, there were Recollects from the communities of San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja), Monteagudo and Marcilla (Navarra). The eucharistic celebration was presided by the vicar general of the diocese. Concelebrating with him were more than 20 priests. The mass ended with the hymn of our Lady of Valvanera, patroness of La Rioja. “Rose of the mountain, Blessed Lady of Valvanera, the whole of La Rioja comes to you with a kiss on their lips”. Thus begins the hymn which the Augustinian Recollect friar Serafín Prado de la Virgen de Valvanera dedicated to the patroness of this Spanish region.
Orator and scholar
Fr. Serafín stood out for his oratory and scholarship from the moment he entered the seminary in San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja) in 1922. Orphaned of father, he lived in several communities of the Order to finish his education. Later he pursued higher studies at the Gregorian University (Rome, Italy). Destiny had an unpleasant surprise for him. While he was in San Millán de la Cogolla in 1931 the civil authorities appeared in the monastery with the aim of carting away to Madrid its valuable and renowned ivory collection. The townsfolk still recall the energy with which Fr. Serafín impeded the ivory collection’s transfer to the capital.
But if there was something that he was passionate about, it was Saint Augustine and the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
Fr. Serafin was one of the prime exponents of San Millan’s recognition as the “Cradle of the Castilian Language”. History and Language
At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) the community of students of Marcilla (Navarra) was dissolved and the religious were sent to the Philippines and Venezuela. Serafín Prado arrived in the latter country in March 1940. His pedagogy and oratory shone for six years until the superiors assigned him back to Spain, to San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja), to catalogue the monastery archive. In 1965 he published the catalogue of 1,207 documents that describe the history of the monastery.
Fr. Serafin was one of the prime exponents of San Millan’s recognition as the “Cradle of the Castilian Language” and in such terms did he speak at the solemn opening of the San Millan Year held at the Hall of the Kings of Yuso Monastery on 26 September 1972 at the unveiling of the commemorative marker of the Royal Academy of the Language for the birth of Castilian in San Millan.
A commemorative plaque. Spiritual Master
Fr. Serafín taught theology for more than 30 years in the theological house in Marcilla (Navarra) and he was present at defining moments of the recent history of the Augustinian Recollects. After the Second Vatican Council, heeding the mandate of the Church, he participated actively in the preparation of the Constitutions which define the identity, spirituality and mission of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. With dedication and wisdom, Fr. Serafín participated in the drafting of many of the texts that have served as guide and inspiration to the religious of the Order. The General Chapter, presently being held in Monachil (Granada), sent a message to join the tribute to this illustrious Augustinian Recollect.