The newly-appointed pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, was the leader of the Catholic order of St. Augustine.
A core value for this order is to “live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.”
What is an Augustinian?
Augustinians are members of the Order of Saint Augustine, an international Catholic religious community, according to the Augustinian Vocations of North America website.
The order bases its values on the beliefs and teachings set forth by Jesus Christ and Saint Augustine of Hippo, the Augustinian Order said.
Augustinians believe in the Rule of St. Augustine. Written about the year 400, the Rule of St. Augustine is one of the earliest guides for religious life. A short document, it is divided into eight chapters.
See full document HERE
The rule, developed by Augustine of Hippo (354–430), governs chastity, poverty, obedience, detachment from the world, the apportionment of labour, the inferiors, fraternal charity, prayer in common, fasting and abstinence proportionate to the strength of the individual, care of the sick, silence and reading during meals.
It came into use on a wide scale from the twelfth century onwards and continues to be employed today by many orders, including the Dominicans, Servites, Mercederians, Norbertines, and Augustinians.
By the numbers:
There are about 2,800 Augustinians in 47 countries across the world.
Who was Saint Augustine?
St. Augustine of Hippo was a theologian, writer, preacher and bishop.
Born Aurelius Augustine in 354 AD, he would go on to become a “servant of God” at 33 years old, according to the Augustinians Province of St. Thomas of Villanova website.
He went on to become the bishop in a city called Hippo in Algeria, where he served for 35 years.
Augustine not only served as the leader of his local church, but was also a civil official.
Throughout his life, he wrote over 200 books and nearly 1,000 sermons, letters and other works.
Augustine died on August 28, 430 AD, but left behind a legacy of valuing community, welcoming everyone and showing empathy and love.
The Order’s Emblem
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.
Saint Augustine is often portrayed holding a flaming heart to indicate his great personal charity and the fact that he preached love of neighbour as the way to serve God. In the emblem of the Order it reminds Augustine’s followers that they must practice and preach charity toward God and neighbour. The arrow piercing the heart and the book represents the Spirit of God piercing our minds and hearts and calling us to a continual growth of faith, hope and love in our lives.
The Order does not have an official motto, but often you see the Latin words Tolle Lege used like a motto. Those words mean Take! Read! which are suitable as an encouragement to study.They
Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost, the new pope?
Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken the name Leo XIV. The Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
After joining the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and making his solemn vows in 1981, he earned degrees in mathematics, divinity, and canon law—including a doctorate from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Prevost was ordained in 1982 and began his pastoral and academic service in Peru in 1985, where he served in roles such as chancellor, seminary rector, canon law professor, and judicial vicar.
In 1999, Prevost was elected provincial prior of the Augustinians in Chicago, and just a few years later, he became prior general of the worldwide order, serving two terms until 2013.
He then returned to Peru at Pope Francis’ request to serve as apostolic administrator—and later bishop—of the Diocese of Chiclayo
In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful Vatican role responsible for episcopal appointments worldwide.
He was made a cardinal in September of the same year.
