St. Augustine: a light that illuminates today’s challenges

The knowledge and study of St. Augustine is one of the fundamental pillars of the spirituality of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. In this context, Fr. Bruno D’Andrea, an Augustinian Recollect religious, has stood out for his contribution to the study of the saint and his theological legacy. Recently, he obtained his doctorate in theology with a thesis on the Christology of St. Augustine. An Argentinean from the capital city of Santa Fe, his formative journey began in Buenos Aires and continued in Granada, Spain. He took his first steps in community and pastoral life in Venezuela, where he worked as a vocation promoter, formator and pastor in a challenging context. Later, he was sent to Rome to study Patrology at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum. Currently, he is a teacher of professed in Monachil and collaborates with the Institute of Augustinology, the team Ministerium Sapientiae and the University Loyola Andalucía, where he teaches classes in Patrology, Patristics and contemporary theology. In addition, he supports the Vocation Ministry in the Vicariate of Spain. In this interview, D’Andrea shares his personal experience in the elaboration of his doctoral work and reflections on his current mission in the field of formation.

How did you become interested in studying Patrology?

When I was in Venezuela, the Prior Provincial suggested that I study in Rome. When he asked me what I wanted to study, I mentioned Dogmatics or Patristics. The recommendation was to opt for Patristics, and since then I saw it as something providential. Since I entered the seminary, I had been reading the works of St. Augustine and felt a natural inclination to spread his thought, life and spirituality. This opportunity allowed me to deepen my knowledge in a field that I had always admired.

What have you discovered in the study of Patrology that has most impacted you and that you apply to your life and mission?

I am constantly amazed by the richness of the biblical interpretations of the Fathers of the Church. Their way of making sense of figures, narratives and parables to edify the faithful and the Church is deeply spiritual. The symbolic exegesis they developed, although it does not compete with the advances of modern exegesis, has a unique impact on the heart and soul.

From your perspective, what does St. Augustine represent for Patrology?

St. Augustine is one of the great Fathers of the Church and the most influential in the West. It is impossible to deal with a theological topic without mentioning his thought and doctrine. His influence extends even to areas such as philosophy and science, where thinkers of different currents find inspiration in his writings. His ability to dialogue with the great existential questions makes him relevant for all times.

What is your doctoral thesis about?

My thesis deals with Augustine’s Christology in the work Contra Faustum Manichaeum. Although this work has been studied from different perspectives, my research focuses on the defense of the incarnation that Augustine mentions in the Retractationes. My goal was to analyze how Augustine argues for the incarnation of the Son of God “in the truth of the flesh.”

How can the teaching of St. Augustine help contemporary man?

St. Augustine poses the human being as a “great question” to himself, which is very current. The vertiginous changes we are living through lead us to ask ourselves about the value of humanity. His call to avoid easy paths and to seek profound answers directly challenges the man of today.

How did you live the experience of the defense of your doctoral thesis?

It was a nervous experience but also a very accompanied one. I felt the support of my family, friars, nuns and lay people. I kept repeating to myself that “this thesis is something that belongs to everyone”. This moment made sense because I linked research with my Augustinian Recollect vocation.

Finally, what are your next goals in the study of St. Augustine?

I want to go deeper into his way of teaching through the commentary on the Scriptures and what he can bring to us in terms of accompaniment. I believe there is still much to discover and assimilate in these areas.

Fr. Bruno D’Andrea reminds us that the study of the Fathers of the Church is not only a look at the past, but an invitation to respond to the questions of our time with depth and spirituality.