The Order is fully aware that revitalization deals not only with the will. It is also necessary to illumine our understanding, deepen our knowledge and bring it up to date, and study our proper charism with new efforts and new light. For this purpose the organizational chart of the Order includes the Institute of Augustinology, dedicated to Saint Augustine, and the Institute of Spirituality and History, concentrating more on Augustinian Recollect history and the personalities who have formed it.
In line with what the Order is living today, and following the directives of its last General Chapter, both institutes are making great efforts to provide appropriate materials for common reflection. The specific efforts of the Institute of Spirituality and History are channeled in two directions.
On the one hand, it has just presented an ambitious Plan of Permanent Formation for the years 2014-2016. It is beginning now to publish a series of essays on the topics proposed by the General Council for the next three years: “Revitalization, Community, and Fraternal Life” (2014), “Revitalization and Interiority” (2015), and, finally, “Revitalization, Discernment, and Restructuring” (2016).
They are brief texts, of about 15 pages each, produced by several authors working together: friars, sisters, and members of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity, who have been very happy to be invited to participate. Initially, the essays will not be printed but will be offered on line in the private section for the Order of the Order’s website. Actually the first three essays, authored by young friars resident in Spain, are already available to those who have subscribed to the website.
Our Augustinian Saints Return
The other aspect of the Institute of Spirituality and History is the biographical. The series Nuestros Santos Agustinos (Our Augustinian Saints), so well received during the nineties and the early years of this century, has been dicontinued for some time. It is finally going to continue, though under a different name and with somewhat different characteristics. The new series will be like the former in its primary purpose, making known our outstanding members, and in the external form of the booklets, in “pocket” format with few pages. However, the new booklets will be graced with color and photos and a modern, attractive design. A major difference is that the new series will not be limited to our saints, but will also include other illustrious personalities of the Recollection.
The title chosen for the new collection, Lámparas ardientes (Burning Lamps), has clear Augustinian roots. That is what the Bishop of Hippo called the saints. It is on the feast of his conversion, this coming April 24, that the Institute hopes to begin publication of the series,
Several biographies are already waiting in line to be printed. Those of Mother Mariana of Saint Joseph, Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, Fr. Mariano Gazpio, and Fr. Serafín Prado are already finished. Many more are in the editing phase or have been assigned to writers.