Since Pope Leo XIV is Augustinian, it’s fitting that we write something about this order of monks and sisters. The photo above actually shows a large group of Augustinian monks during an audience with Pope Francis, with Fr Robert Prevost on his left, and Cardinal Prospero Grech, a Maltese cardinal on his right. During the early 5th century, St. Augustine, after a turbulent childhood and teenage years, he began living a monastic life with fellow priests in Northern Africa. This way of living was attractive to many priests, who gathered around Augustine in a monastic community. He wrote a list of guidelines to govern the community that later became known as the "Rule of St. Augustine." By the 13th century there sprung up the Order of Saint Augustine, inspired by Augustine's rule, a more structured religious order. The order was officially founded in 1244, and is known as the Order of St. Augustine, Augustinians, with the acronym after each father’s name O.S.A. The emblem of the Order of Saint Augustine is a flaming heart pierced by an arrow on the background of an open book. The open book suggests a dedication to a search for knowledge, both divine and earthly, and calling us to a continual growth of faith, hope and love in our lives. The Augustinian Order is split up into provinces in almost 50 countries throughout the world. Some famous Augustinians are: St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Boniface, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Thomas of Villanova, St. Fulgentius of Ruspe. We may also mention his mother St Monica, who prayed all through her life for her son's conversion. The Order of Saint Augustine today includes some 2,800 Augustinians in 47 countries throughout the world.
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