It is one of the proposals fixed by the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes (SCRSI) in view of the Year of Consecrated Life: which calls it as “Memoria sanctorum”, or memory of the Saints of the consecrated life.
August, month of Augustinian Saints
On the 19th of September this will be celebrated in Rome, coinciding with the Encounter of consecrated young people (September 15-19). For the Augustinian recollects it is more practical to take advantage of the month of August, especially for what this Month of the Augustinian Saints has in store, by celebrating together the succeeding feasts of Santa Clara de Montefalco (the 17th), St. Ezekiel (the 19th), St. Pio (the 21st), St. Monica (27th) and St Augustine (28th).
Its way of realizing it has to be simple and practical. Given the vocational character of this month in many parts of the Order, it does not intend to add anything new, but reinforce of what is already existing. Particularly, the General Secretariat for Spirituality offers some models for the Eucharistic celebrations for theses feasts. Through this manner and for this time, the outlines replace the activities for recollection that monthly are sent to the communities. And this in part fulfills the recommendation given by the Life and Mission Project of the Order (8,5): “to provide liturgical supplement for the celebration of the feasts of the Order”.
The “stations’
The Congregation of Religious advises to indicate “stations” of special significance: these would be the places of the Order with a special bond with each of the saints. In particular the Secretariat opted for the following:
– As point of reference for this model of contemplation, St Clara de Montefalco, has chosen the monastery of Corpus Christi of Granada (Spain), on account of its magnificent sculpture of the saint that is kept there –carved by Diego de Mora in 1723.
– For St. Ezekiel, it has chosen the sanctuary which recently just been dedicated in Las Pinas (Philippines), and on the 19th wants it to be elevated as basilica menor.
– With regards to St. Pio X, it has opted to have a seminar, which bears the name of the Saint in Queretaro (Mexico).
– The day of St. Monica will be specially celebrated in the community of the sick people in Pamplona (Spain), which bears her name.
– The feast of St. Augustine will have the focus of attention of the Order another cloistered monastery, located in Africa, in Lodwar (Kenya) and dedicated to the great African Doctor of the Church.
The Net and social networks
These places will be seen from all the corners of the Order. Everyone to each of these places will know that that day has a special significance for all the Augustinians and Augustinian recollects as well; and should do one’s beast, as a consequence, by celebrating its Saint with special devotion.
It is expected or we hope that this bond will be shown through the means of communications and social networks. The community chosen to be the “stations” can narrate what it has done. The other communities of the world can send link messages thru electronic mail, Facebook, twitter or whatever other social networks.