Miguel Miró, Prior General, with some other 23 Augustinian Recollect friars celebrated the Holy Eucharist in a side chapel at Saint Peter’s Basilica. At the center of the chapel is a painting of the Presentation of the Virgin, a work of Francesco Romanelli (1640), which is a traditional scene of great significance for the religious gathered there.
Under the altar of this chapel is the tomb of Saint Pius X (1904-1914), the Pope who in 1912 conferred the title of an Order to the Augustinian Recollects. Thus, the Augustinian Recollects are celebrating its centenary, which closes on September 15, 2013. It is for this reason that this renewal course was held in the Eternal City.
Somehow, it was the whole Order that gave thanks to Saint Pius X on that day, even though, in truth, the Eucharistic celebration was and always is an act of thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ, who throughout the ages has called the Augustinian Recollects to follow him. This was the message that the Prior General repeatedly stressed, especially during his homily.
Benedicto XV
The concelebrants Fr. Miró also underscored the ecclesial sense of Order. Since the Pope represents the Church, it was actually the Church who conferred the Augustinian Recollects the highest distinction as an Order. And it is also the Church that continuously entrusts to the Recollects those whom the very Church calls to renewal. Another proof to this is Pope Benedict XV (Giacomo della Chiesa, 1914-1922), who in his life had good rapport with the Recollect friars. His tomb is to be seen in this chapel as well.
With this spirit that pervades the Eucharistic celebration, the whole mass became a prayer for the whole Order: the religious and students in formation, the Augustinian Recollect nuns and sisters, the members of the secular fraternities and the Augustinian Recollect youth. They ended the celebration with a simple prayer to Saint Pius X, composed in celebration of the centenary of his death (2014), and at the end, they sang the hymn to Saint Augustine.