Historical and biographical review of some of the main figures of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Order of Augustinian Recollects from its foundation to the present day.
This priest, Basque by birth with a universal outlook, was born in Mañaria, Vizcaya, Spain, in 1897. He spent his formative years at San Millán, Monteagudo, and Marcilla. He was ordained as a priest in Pamplona in 1921, the same year he earned his degree as a professor and began his ten-year tenure as a professor in Marcilla and San Millán.
Teaching and administrative responsibilities occupied much of his life, leading him to reside in Rome for twelve years across two separate periods.
In 1956, he established his residence in Madrid, from where he regularly conducted his research work or took time to rest. That same year, the Order founded the research journal Avgvstinvs, and Capánaga was appointed director, a position he held until his death.
His role as a researcher and writer was an expression of his profound thought and inner life. From a young age, he contributed short articles—maintaining this practice for many years—to his Province’s publications and to newspapers and magazines of Catholic thought.
In 1932, he published his extensive work The Virgin in the History of Conversions. His Saint John of the Cross: Psychological Value of His Doctrine (1950) was particularly renowned and earned him the Award of the Universities in the contest commemorating the Quadricentennial of the Birth of Saint John of the Cross.
Augustine of Hippo was always at the heart of Fr. Capánaga’s interests, but it was upon assuming the editorship of Avgvstinvs that he dedicated all his efforts to him, focusing primarily on his conversion and search for God.
When Editorial Católica in Madrid decided to publish the complete works of Saint Augustine in its Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos (Library of Christian Authors) series, they entrusted Fr. Victorino with preparing the first volume, which included a general foreword of excellent quality. He authored various forewords and Spanish translations for subsequent volumes.
The most mature fruits of his labor are Agustín de Hipona, maestro de la conversión cristiana [Augustine of Hippo, Master of Christian Conversion], published in 1974, and the posthumous Buscando a Dios con San Agustín [In Search of God with Saint Augustine].
A festschrift edition of Avgvstinvs, dedicated to his memory, spanned 96 pages of the special issue. In 1985, he was recognized as a significant figure among the creators and disseminators of Augustinian culture in the twentieth century. His thoughts remain present and influential among readers worldwide.
