October 9 was a day full of grace for the Augustinian Recollect family. In the morning, they participated with Pope Leo XIV in the Jubilee Eucharist of Consecrated Life in St. Peter’s Square. In the afternoon, they gathered in the Basilica of St. Augustine to pray before the remains of St. Monica. In communion with Peter, with anxious and grateful hearts, religious men and women, lay people and fraternities from different parts of the world renewed their vocation and celebrated the gift of consecrated life.
Consecrated heart beats strongly at St. Peter’s
Thousands of consecrated men and women gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the morning of October 9 to participate in the Eucharist of the Jubilee of the Blessed Sacrament.
Jubilee Eucharist
presided over by
Pope Leo XIV
. Among them, a representation of more than
200 members of the Augustinian Recollect family: friars, Augustinian Recollect nuns of the
Among them, a representation of more than 200 members of the Augustinian Recollect family: friars, Augustinian Recollect nuns from the federations of Spain and Mexico, commendatory nuns of Santiago, lay and secular fraternities, together with religious of all ages and continents.
In his
homily
Pope Leo XIV reflected on the three verbs of Gospel prayer:
to ask, to seek and to call
inviting consecrated men and women to live them with humility, memory and trust.
“The Lord is everything. He is so as Creator, as love that calls, as a force that impels and encourages self-giving.”
The Pope quoted
St. Augustine
to speak of the infinite desire for God that dwells in the human heart:
“This is what I love when I love my God”(Conf. 10:6,8).
He encouraged those in consecrated life to be
to be witnesses of future good things
y
oxygen of lasting love in a world thirsting for
in a world thirsting for meaning.
Prayer at St. Monica’s: vocations on fire
In the afternoon, the Augustinian Recollect family moved to the Basilica of St. Augustine in Campo Marzio.
Basilica of St. Augustine in Campo Marzio
where the remains of
St. Monica
Monica’s remains, for an intimate moment of prayer and communion. The
young religious led the prayers, with the
The young religious led the prayers, with the participation of the whole family in common prayer. Each petition was raised to the Lord with the certainty that the consecrated vocation is fruitful when it is born and sustained in persevering prayer.
Words of the Prior General: “We want to renew our first love”.
After the prayers, the Prior General, Friar
Prior General, Friar Miguel Ángel Hernández
Miguel Angel Hernandez, addressed some words full of gratitude, hope and spiritual depth:
“Here we are almost 200 friars: friars, nuns, commendatrixes, secular fraternity… gathered in this basilica, next to St. Monica, to tell the Lord: here we continue, with tired feet and intact heart.”
He recalled with emotion the religious with more than 50 years of consecrated life who have come to Rome to renew their vocation and the young people who wish to learn from their footsteps:
“We want to return to the fire of our first love. May the fire of our vocation be rekindled, before the burning heart of St. Augustine.”
The Prior General evoked St. Monica as an example of courage, faith and determination.
courage, faith and determination
a woman who “never gave up” and who continues to be a model for the whole family today:
“Young people, learn from St. Monica. Let nothing come between you and the love of God.”
He concluded by thanking the presence of the secular fraternity, emphasizing the joy of living united as brothers and sisters.
living together as brothers and sisters
. After his words, he imparted the final blessing to the entire assembly, asking the intercession of
St. Augustine and St. Monica
.
Prayer to Saint Monica for Religious Life
The highlight was the
Prayer to St. Monica
written by
John Eduard Olarte
John Eduard Olarte, from the animation team of the meeting of young religious. In the name of all, this prayer was said:
Prayer to Saint Monica for Religious Life
Saint Monica, woman of persevering faith and tireless mother, who knew how to hope in God with a heart full of hope, today we invoke you from this basilica where your holy remains rest. We present to you, Mother, the consecrated life of the entire Augustinian family: our communities, our brothers and sisters who, following the example of your son St. Augustine, seek to love and serve God in fraternity and truth.
Intercede for us before the Lord, so that our consecration may always be a sign of hope in the midst of the world. Teach us to pray with confidence, to wait with patience and to love with humility. May we, like you, know how to remain firm in faith, faithful in prayer and ardent in charity, pilgrims of hope towards the fullness of God’s love.
And now, Mother St. Monica, receive our intentions and accompany our steps. May your example of dedication and perseverance sustain our vocation every day. Grant that, like you and your son St. Augustine, we may always live in search of the Truth and in fraternal communion, so that our whole life may be a praise of God and a witness to his love in the Church. Amen.
A day that marks the heart
October 9, 2025 will be remembered as a day of unity, prayer and renewal.
unity, prayer and renewal
. As the Prior General recalled:
“We are still here, and we want to renew our yes”.
The Augustinian Recollect family
won the Jubilee
united with Peter, prayed as Church, and continued to walk as a pilgrim of hope.
pilgrim of hope
called to live each day
with a restless heart
.
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