Blessed John Paul II has been God’s grace to the Church and, in a special way, to the Augustinian Recollects. On the 16th of October 1978 the Church welcomed the pontificate of the first Polish Pope. He led the Church for 26 years, 5 months and 17 days. It was in his time when the people of God experienced lively leadership, a charism, which to many religious was source of inspiration. John Paul II died on the second day of April 2005. Six years after, his successor Benedict XVI, recognizing his sanctity, elevates him to the altars.
In the course of his 26-year pontificate, John Paul II found in the Order of Augustinian Recollects a family that is disposed to go where the Church had more needs. He even named bishops 17 of its religious, and most of them are in the mission territories. This shows the trust that the Blessed had in these religious.
Models of sanctity
Karol Wojtyla also recognized the value of the Augustinian Recollect charism. He presented to the Church as models of sanctity some of those who have lived the spirituality of the Order. During his time as head of the Church he canonized the St. Magdalena of Nagasaki, a tertiary, and the missionary bishop, St. Ezekiel Moreno. He also presided in the beatification of the religious Melchor de San Agustín and Martín de San Nicolás, the Venezuelan foundress María de San José and the martyrs of Motril (Granada, Spain).
In four occasions he gave audience to the superiors of the Order to encourage and animate them in preparation for the General Chapters of 1980, 1986 and 2004. The fourth came in a form that was more intimate and personal. He gave audience to the different general superiors who have come in succession within his 26-year pontificate.
On the 29th of April 1979 he addressed the representatives of the Order, exhorting the religious to live more profoundly the Augustinian Recollect charism they have received. Finally, on November 28 1988, and on the occasion of the IV Centenary of the Recollection, the Pope sent an extensive message to the whole Order.
SAINTS AND BLESSED
- 1981 (February 28): Beatification of the martyr, St. Magdalena of Nagasaki in Manila, Philippines.
- 1987 (October 18): Canonization of Magdalena of Nagasaki in Rome, Italy.
- 1989 (April 23): Beatification of the venerables Melchor de San Agustín and Martín de San Nicolás in Rome, Italy.
- 1992 (October 11): Canonization of blessed Ezekiel Moreno in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
- 1995 (May 7): Beatification of the Venezuelan religious María de San José, founder of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- 1999 (March 7): Beatification of the martyrs of Motril (Granada, Spain) in Rome, Italy.
AUDIENCES AND MESSAGES
- 1979 (April 28): He gave audience to the prior general, the priors provincial and the delegates of the provinces to prepare them for the general chapter. He gave an extensive message.
- 1985 (March 25): He welcomed the prior general, the general council and the priors provincial to concelebrate with him the Holy Eucharist in preparation for their general chapter.
- 1988 (November 28): He directed a Message to the Order on the occasion of the IV Centenary of the Recollection.
- 2004 (November 5): Pope John Paul II gave audience to the delegates to the general chapter. He invited the friars to journey “starting afresh from Christ.”
APPOINTMENTS OF BISHOPS
- 1979 (January 26): José Arana Berruete, bishop of the prelature of Chota (Peru).
- 1981 (August 24): Alfonso Gallegos, auxiliary bishop of Sacramento (USA).
- 1983 (January 20): David Arias, auxiliary bishop of Newark (USA).
- 1985 (December 30): José Luis Lacunza, bishop of David (Panama).
- 1986 (May 3): Agustín Otero, auxiliary bishop of Bogota (Colombia).
- 1987 (February 16): José Luis Azcona, bishop of the prelature of Marajo (Brazil).
- 1991 (March 6): Francisco Javier Hernández, bishop of Tiangua (Brazil).
- 1991 (May 8): Nicolás Shi, bishop of Shangqiu (China)
- 1993 (December 7): Emiliano Cisneros, bishop of the prelature of Chota (Peru).
- 1994 (January 12): Jesús Moraza, bishop of the prelature of Labrea (Brazil).
- 1995 (July 25): Ángel San Casimiro, bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica).
- 1996 (December 8): José Wang, bishop of Hezé (China)
- 1999 (February 24): Joaquín Pertiñez, bishop of Río Branco (Brazil).
- 2000 (February 23): Jesús María Cizaurre, bishop of the prelature of Cameta (Brazil).
- 2000 (October 23): Javier Pizarro, bishop of the vicariate of Trinidad (Colombia).
- 2002 (March 27): José Carmelo Martínez, bishop of Chota (Peru).
- 2004 (October 29): Mario Alberto Molina, bishop of Quiche (Guatemala).