Month of Preparation for Solemn Profession
The most intense of the activities lasted for four weeks and marks an important milestone in the life of a religious. The first of these sets out the limit between its temporary from definitive commitment of one’s vows. This is the so called Month of Preparation specially before the Solemn Profession, which since in 1976 all the candidates undergo and are at their final stage before making its final consecration to God.
For linguistic reasons, once again the Month of preparation is split into two. In the Philippines (Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary of Baguio, June 15-july) one was held in an English speaking. The Spanish speaking took place in Spain (House of Spirituality San Millan de la Cogolla, La Rioja, June 28-July 26).
In the Philippines the candidates were only five, all Filipinos; ; while those of San Millan were 17 and they come from eight different countries: Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, England, and Guatemala. Added to them were the members of its corresponding responsible teams; three religious from Baguio, four for the Month in Spain. The speakers come from different places and different religious, just like all the Augustinian recollects.
The list of topics is basically the same for both, distributed into weekly groupings. There is a week dedicated for spiritual exercises. Another week is dedicated for reflection on the theology of the consecrated life. The third, about the charism of the Augustinian Recollects. And there is a fourth week of informative and experiential in nature, in which the different apostolic horizon of the Order is presented to the young men.
Course of Renewal
Its an intensive activity on permanent formation implanted in the Order h for more than 40 years. It is provided to all the religious, who are called to participate, for at least, every ten years,. The basic criteria of organization is geographical: the continents of Europe and America take turns annually, and that of Asia is convoked with certain regularity.
The 2015 Course of renewal was the turn for Europe, and was celebrated in Rome from June 21. The participants were 24, majority were Europeans, although there were also Colombians, a Brazilian and a Filipino. Again the central theme was on interiority. In tuning in to the current situation, two other topics were added; the revitalization, which the Order is focused actually; and the consecrated life, which this special year the Church celebrates.
To each of the three topics, “Revitalization, Interiority, Consecrated Life”, a week of reflection was allotted, in the augustinian as well as in the recollect aspect. For this it relied on the guidance of various religious of the Order, both from experts from outside as well as from prominent figures like the prior general, Miguel Miro, or the Secretary of the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes (SCRSI), Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carvallo.
Not everything has to be always on reflection and study. The month long stay in the Eternal city invites to be soaked in the tradition and experience translated into art. This is what the participants of the Course did. For them several Eucharistic celebrations will become unforgettable, like those celebrated in the tomb of St. Monica; or in Cassia, together with St. Rita; or in the basilica of St. Mary Major or in the crypt of the Vatican Basilica. And they will keep an unforgettable memory of its visit to Montefalco, the house of St. Claire, or on what they experience in the catacomb of St. Calixtus. And there were still several others, memories and excitements which they might have kept guard in their hearts.
Spiritual Exercises
It is the most traditional and universal spiritual and formative activity. This obliged all the religious, and is usually organized by countries and zones. For several years, they have standardized its structure and topics under the direction of trained personnel by the Team of Revitalization of the Order.
Within the month of July there were several invitations, Several activities were integrated in the mentioned two months of preparation for the solemn preparation and the Course of Renewal. But these were not the only ones. Together with the professed of the Month of Preparation in San Millan, within the same monastery but in a separate place, they had it from the 12th to the 18th of July, the 10 novices of Monteagudo (Navarra), their way of preparation before making their profession.
In Colombia different groups were already held in the month of June, and in them 17 and 37 religious participated. Both were celebrated in the cradle of the Recollection in America, the convent of El Desierto de la Candelaria (Raquira, Boyaca). There also took place the third group, from 5th to 12th of July, in which 33 brothers participated.
Within the same month of July, two groups of spiritual exercises were programmed in Spain. One was celebrated in the middle of Spanish plain, in Valladolid, with 21 religious participants. The second looked for a fresher air in the mountain and took place in the convent of San Millan de la Cogolla (La Rioja) the last days of the month, between 27 and 31. 25 religious participated on that.
There are almost 200 recollects who have participated in all of these activities. And others could still be added, those who have joined in the formation courses, like the 12 participants in the course on the constitutions in the convent of Santa Monica, in Sao Paulo (Brazil). And also other participants in different groups of refresher courses, specially in the field of education.
The conclusion is clear: if the month of august is for almost everybody a month of rest, july is for many of the augustianian recollects the month of keeping updated, specially in the spiritual level.