On the Solemnity of All Saints of the Order, we celebrate the richness of the lives of those men and women who have embodied in an exemplary way the charism of St. Augustine. These lives invite us to rediscover the profound meaning of our own existence, guiding us towards the search for the truth and love that dwells in the depths of our hearts. St. Augustine, whose spirituality is characterized by the restlessness of the heart until it rests in God, has inspired a pleiad of saints who made their lives a pilgrimage towards the encounter with Love.
St. Augustine expresses this longing clearly in his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you” (Conf. I, 1, 1). This “restlessness” is nothing other than the power of love that impels us not to be satisfied with superficial or temporal things, but to seek what is eternal and true. The saints of the Augustinian Family lived this search with intensity, guided by the conviction that only in God do we find the fullness of our existence.
Augustinian holiness is lived in community. For Augustine, the Christian life is not a solitary journey, but a journey shared with brothers and sisters. “There is no greater proof of love than to shed one’s own blood for one’s brothers”(Enarrationes in Psalmos, 132, 2). The saints of the Order understood that true community is founded on mutual love and the common desire to walk toward God. St. Clare of Montefalco, for example, left us the witness of a life consecrated to the service of her community, always seeking to foster unity and fraternal love.
St. Rita of Cascia is another outstanding figure within the Augustinian Family. Known as the “advocate of the impossible,” Rita lived a life of profound union with Christ, especially in suffering. She found in prayer and reconciliation the way to transform difficulties into opportunities for love. Her life teaches us the importance of total surrender and trust in God’s will, even in the most painful moments.
Another great saint of the Order is St. Nicholas of Tolentino, who lived with a deep devotion to the souls in purgatory and a boundless charity towards the needy. His life was marked by fasting, constant prayer and miracles, always seeking to alleviate the suffering of others. Nicholas reminds us that holiness is also expressed in the simplicity of daily gestures and in caring for the most vulnerable.
Another crucial aspect of Augustinian spirituality is the love of truth. St. Augustine constantly invites believers to enter into the “inner man” in order to discover God who dwells in the depths of the soul.“Do not go outside, return to yourself; in the inner man dwells the truth”(De vera religione, 39, 72). This invitation to interiority was embraced by saints such as Blessed Gonzalo de Lagos, who, through his intense life of prayer and study, showed that the encounter with truth requires silence, reflection and a constant openness to the mystery of God.
St. Ezekiel Moreno is another shining example of Augustinian holiness. He was a tireless missionary and bishop, known for his defense of the poor and his struggle for social justice. His life was marked by unreserved dedication to the service of the Gospel, even in the midst of the difficulties he faced during his work in Colombia and the Philippines. St. Ezekiel teaches us that holiness is also found in active commitment to the welfare of others, especially those most in need, and in fidelity to the Gospel message in times of adversity.
St. Magdalene of Nagasaki and the martyrs of Japan are also moving testimonies to the Augustinian spirit. Magdalene, an Augustinian tertiary, gave her life for Christ in the midst of intense persecution. Her courage and deep faith led her to offer her life as a witness of love for God, inspiring others to remain steadfast in their faith. Along with her, many martyrs of the Augustinian Family in Japan showed with their lives the power of love for God above all suffering. These martyrs remind us of the power of faith lived to its ultimate consequences, as an expression of the most authentic love.
Today, as we celebrate all the saints of the Augustinian Family, we are called to let ourselves be inspired by their example and to live with the same passion that restlessness that leads us to seek always more, to love without measure and to live in communion. They remind us that holiness is not an unattainable ideal, but a possible reality for all those who allow themselves to be transformed by the love of God. St. Augustine encourages us by saying: “Love and do what you will”(In Epistolam Ioannis ad Parthos Tractatus, VII, 8). This love, which is born of God and shared with others, is the path that leads us to true freedom and happiness.
On this feast, may we ask for the intercession of all the saints of the Augustinian Order, so that we too may live in the constant search for God, in fraternal communion and unreserved love, as they did. May our hearts, like Augustine’s, remain restless until we find rest in the eternal embrace of the Father.