Augustine of Hippo is our founder and the father of an extensive Religious Family that follows his Rule, his teachings and his way of life. In these pages we approach his biography, his sensitivity, his way of life and his proposals to men and women of all times.
We have to jump to the thirteenth century. Until then, the history of my family ran like an underground river, but now it reappears. My whole life has always been to serve the Church: it is the duty of every good son to sacrifice himself with joy for his mother. And in the thirteenth century the Church cried out for volunteers to come out in defense of the faith, its flesh was torn by heresies, many of its members led a languid life. Special bodies had to be formed, well trained and willing to expend their strength in preaching by word and example. Many of the best had retired from the cities, seeking God in the solitude and simplicity of the country; they lived like hermits, attentive only to themselves, searching for God within themselves; They prayed, meditated, did penance…
The Pope wanted to unite scattered energies, he summoned hermits and called them to the service of the Church. In the year 1256, in Rome, what we call “the Great Union” takes place: the various groups, with their peculiar tendencies, form a single body and, as a norm and goal of life, they all accept my rule.
My family has suddenly become rich with countless more children. My vocation has always been to restore peace and unity. And these now are also children of the union, of unity. And they carry in their veins the blood of charity, of the love that leads them to serve, above all, the Church.
Good march we still have to do.
NEXT PAGE: a. And they began their journey
TABLE OF CONTENT: SAINT AUGUSTINE
- A. Biography of Augustine of Hippo
- B. Augustinian monasticism
- C. The tree that Augustine planted
