Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine
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| Abbreviation | O.S.A., Augustinians, Augustinian friars |
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| Motto | Anima una et cor unum in Deum |
| Formation | March 1, 1244 |
| Type | Mendicant religious order of the Catholic Church |
| Purpose | Pastoral work, missions, education, intellectual activity, etc |
| Headquarters | Augustinian General Curia |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 41°54′2.65″N 12°27′25.18″E / 41.9007361°N 12.4569944°E |
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Region served
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50 countries in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania |
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Membership
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2,785 friars, of which, 1,999 are priests |
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Prior General
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The Most Reverend Alejandro Moral, O.S.A. |
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Key people
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Martin Luther, Gregor Mendel, Luis de León, Andres Urdaneta, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Rita of Cascia, Saint Thomas of Villanova, Giles of Rome. |
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Main organ
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General Chapter |
| Website | Augustinians.net |
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Formerly called
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Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine (O.E.S.A.) Ordo eremitarum sancti Augustini |
The Order of St. Augustine (Latin: Ordo sancti Augustini, abbreviated as O.S.A. — historically Ordo eremitarum sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A., the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine), generally called Augustinians, or Austin Friars, (not to be confused with the Augustinian Canons Regular) is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one. In its establishment in its current form, it was shaped as a mendicant Order, one of the four great Orders which follow that way of life. The Order has done much to extend the influence of the Church, to propagate the Roman Catholic Faith and to advance learning. The Order has, in particular, spread internationally the veneration of the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Mater boni consilii).
St. Augustine of Hippo, first with some friends and afterward as bishop with his clergy, led a monastic community life. Religious vows were not obligatory, but the possession of private property was prohibited. Their manner of life led others to imitate them. Instructions for their guidance were found in several writings of St. Augustine, especially in De opere monachorum (P.L., XL, 527), mentioned in the ancient codices regularum of the eighth or ninth century as the "Rule of St. Augustine". Epistola ccxi, otherwise cix (P.L., XXXIII, 958), contains the early "Augustinian Rule for Nuns"; Epistolae ccclv and ccclvi (P.L., mmmlxv, 3065) "De moribus clericorum". Between 430 and 570 this life-style was carried to Europe by monks and clergy fleeing the persecution of the Vandals. This system of life for cathedral clergy continued in various locations throughout Europe for centuries.
As the first millennium came to an end, the fervor of this life began to wane, and the cathedral clergy began to live independently of one another. At the start of the second millennium, there was a revival in interest in the stricter form of clerical life. Several groups of canons were established under various disciplines, all with the Augustinian Rule as their basis. Examples of these were the Congregation of canons in Ravenna, founded by the Blessed Peter de Honestis about 1100, as well as the Norbertines. The instructions contained in Augustine's Rule formed the basis of the Rule that, in accordance with the decree of the Lateran Synod of 1059, was adopted by canons who desired to practice a common apostolic life (Holstenius, Codex regularum, II, Rome, 1661, 120), hence the title of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine.
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