On Sunday, July 1, ten young religious gathered in the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja) in order to start the immediate one month of preparation for their solemn profession. For four weeks, they have participated in this encounter designed to help them discern their final consecration in the Order. Until July 28 they have lived an atmosphere of prayer and reflection on topics related to religious life and the charism of the Augustinian Recollects.
The atmosphere during the entire month has been one of intense fellowship, considering the fact that the young people came from three distinct Provinces of the Order- Our Lady of the Candles, St. Thomas and St. Joseph – and from five nationalities: three Venezuelans, two Peruvians, two Argentines, and a Brazilian.
The team responsible for this month of preparation was even more colorful. Because, together with José Ramón Pérez, a Spaniard and President of the General Secretariat of Formation, it was composed of an Argentine, Luciano Audisio; a Colombian, Héctor Manuel Calderón; and a Mexican, Fabián Martín. All coming from different Provinces of the Order.
ONLY ONE SOUL
The team Fabian Martin, from the House of Formation of St. Augustine, which the Augustinian Recollects have in Las Rozas (Madrid), was precisely the one responsible in guiding the reflection of the first week, on issues related to religious consecration and the evangelical counsels (anthropology of vocation, affectivity and sexuality in religious life, the centrality of the identity and fidelity to vocation).
On the second week, religious who are involved both in the missions and schools, parishes or youth ministry, shared their experiences to the young, who were able to perfect their knowledge of the Order by listening to several Provincial Superiors who made themselves available there.
One of the obligatory activities of the Month of Preparation is to give spiritual exercises expressly designed for the situation in which these young people find themselves. This time the exercises have occupied the third week, from Monday, July 15 to 19, and the in charge of conducting them has been one of the components of the team and the brand-new graduate in the Biblical Institute of Rome, Luciano Audisio. With his skillful help, the professing young people, have assumed as their own the experience of so many personages in the Sacred Scripture who were touched by the finger of God.
Finally, the fourth week, was set aside for the other segment of the block of compulsory topics, namely, the charism and spirituality of the Order. An Augustinian Recollect Friar has also conducted this, another young asset, Enrique Gómez. The week and the month, ended on Saturday, July 27, with the closing Eucharistic celebration presided by Prior General, Miguel Miró.
ONLY ONE HEART
The binding force of these people and activities has been the fellowship of those who seek a common ideal, as well as the unique framework of the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. In addition to the joint efforts of reflection, study and prayer, all have had also the opportunity of participating in various recreational and communitarian moments. Among these, we can stress the guided visit to the facilities of this emblematic place, cradle of the Castilian Language and proclaimed by the UNESCO as World Heritage. Taking advantage of the week-ends, they have enjoyed the beautiful views of the mountains that surround them, as well as the guided tour to monuments nearby, such as the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada and the Monasteries of Cañas y Nájera. As for the third week, July 20 and 21, they arrived at the very sanctuary of Lourdes, in France, where they entrusted to Mary their plans and dreams.