Sunday, September 16 will remain as a memorable day in the annals of the Augustinian Recollects. On that day the opening of the Commemorative Centenary Year on the granting of the pontifical title of Order be celebrated in all its geographical territory. On August 19 the prior General himself, Miguel Miro, made a convocation through an official communication addressed to the whole Augustinian Recollect Family.
It was Pope Pius X who, through a brief “Religiosas Familias” of September 16, 1912, granted an accolade to the Recollects, thus acknowledging the almost 324 years of heroic services to the Church. From that moment on, these ceased to be juridically dependent from the Order of St. Augustine, but without abandoning the atmosphere of the Augustinian Family.
Eucharist on the opening
The celebration will include a solemn Eucharist and centralized in every nation where the Recollects are present. For example, in Colombia it will take place in a parish near the central house in Bogota and will be presided by an Augustinian Recollect bishop, Olavio Lopez Duque. In the Philippines the scenery of the celebration will be the historic “steel basilica” of San Sebastian, in Manila and the main celebrant will be Bishop Teodoro Bacani. Finally, in Spain it will be in Madrid, in the parish of St. Rita at 12:00 noon. The celebration will be presided by Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid and president of the Episcopal Conference of Spain.
The Prior General, Miguel Miro, will preside the celebrations in Mexico. He will do it in two parts: on the 16th, at 13th hours, in the auditorium of the college of Fr. Luis de Leon; and on the following day at 20th hours, in the temple of St. Monica in the Capital.
Through a special permission of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, in the whole Augustinian Recollect the liturgical formulary will not be that proper to the corresponding Sunday, common to the entire Church, but the votive mass of St. Augustine taken from the missal of the Order.
Jubilee centered on pardon and interior renewal
In order to give importance to the celebration, the Augustinian Recollects have petitioned the Apostolic Penitentiary, the office of the Vatican in charge of indulgences, and obtained the concession of a plenary indulgence. They make clear the spiritual orientation that they want to give to the Centenary: it will be a jubilee centered on pardon and interior renewal, more than an external and formal festivity. For that purpose the Prior General encouraged everyone in his communication: “Let us learn from the dedication and holiness of so many brothers, as well as the errors of the time. Then let us ask pardon with humility from the Father of Mercy”.
There are three dates when those “ who religiously participate in the solemn celebrations in the houses of the Augustinian Recollects and in all the sanctuaries entrusted to them” all throughout the world, can gain the plenary indulgence: on the forthcoming 16th of September, the 5th of December this year (the foundation day of the Order) and on the closing of the Centenary, the 15th of September 2013. It is enough that they fulfill the usual conditions: having confessed, receive communion and pray for the intentions of the Pope.