On May 16, the Augustinian Family celebrates the feast of Saints Alypius and Posidius, friends of St. Augustine. Since 2021, with a decree of Fr. Miguel Miró, Prior General at that time, became patrons of the Augustinian Recollect Youth, trusting “that with their example and intercession the young Augustinian Recollect Youth will find in faith the meaning of their lives and that they will live friendship, fraternity and service to others with hope and joy”. The commitment to life in the RAY is a call for “young people to learn to walk together, to share their experiences in the encounter with Jesus and to live friendship, fraternity and solidarity”. For this reason, Alipio and Posidio are “an example of life, fraternity, friendship and fidelity to the Augustinian charism and constitute a reference point for the young people of our time”.
For this year’s celebration, the Prior General, Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez, addresses the JAR youth with an invitation to live this celebration with joy. “To you young JAR I address myself to tell you on this feast that God also calls you to leave indelible traces in the hearts of your friends and closest people, just as Alipio and Posidio knew how to leave them in the life of Augustine, traces that point and lead you to God. Footprints that help you not to get lost at the crossroads of life”.
“He who has a friend has a treasure and he who has a friend who, in turn, is a friend of God, has a blessing. This year in the Order we remember that if we aspire to great things we must begin with small things. You young people, by nature, are full of illusions, dreams and projects that not infrequently fade and dissipate like smoke. And the reason may be that we do not lay the foundations of life well, we fill ourselves with daydreams and neglect the little things. You get to the top by climbing one step at a time. That is what I propose to you: that you make your way step by step, with your feet firmly planted and, if possible, accompanied by those friends of God who will help you climb the peaks of heaven, as Alipio and Posidio helped Augustine”.