The Augustinian monastic tradition of the Dominican Nuns of Lourdes

... from the Augustinian monastic tradition

When St. Dominic went to Rome for the blessing of his new Order, he was told that he would have to adopt an already existing Rule.

Having been a monk at Osma following the Rule of St. Augustine, it was not difficult for him to abide to it again. So, brothers and nuns would thereafter feed from this same special monastic substance.

This rule reflects well the aspirations of St. Augustine, his author.

At the basis of his rule and as foundation to everything, he wrote:
" Before all else, dear brothers, love God and then your neighbor. "

In fact, for a long time, Augustine had been looking for a life of prayer and study.

He was searching God: " How then do I seek Thee, O Lord? For when I seek Thee, my God, I seek a happy life. I will seek Thee, that my soul may live. For my body liveth by my soul; and my soul by Thee. "

" Too late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new !
too late I loved Thee! And behold, Thou wert within, and I abroad, and there I searched for Thee; deformed I, plunging amid those fair forms which Thou hadst made.
Thou wert with me, but I was not with Thee.
Things held me far from Thee, which, unless they were in Thee, were not at all. "

Augustine had discovered the God that Jesus was talking about, the God of charity, which may be the reason of his love for common life where "charity prevails in all things". In fact, "charity was recommended in such a manner by Christ and his apostles, that if it alone is missing, everything is missing, and, if it is present, everything is full."

It may be also that his concern for charity led him to make it play a special part in the concept of authority in the Rule of his order. As a matter of fact, there is no existing master/follower relation between the superior and brothers (sisters) as there is in St. Benedict's rule or the older rule called the rule of the master. In fact, the relation of the brothers (sisters) with their superior is essentially within a brotherhood life attentive to God's Word and pressing towards Him.

Hence, St. Augustine frequently quotes this verse of the Acts of the Apostles (ch 4,32): " Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. "





		... from the Augustinian monastic tradition When St. Dominic went to Rome for the blessing of his new Order, he was told that he would have to adopt an already existing Rule. Having been a monk at Osma following the Rule of St. Augustine, it was not difficult for him to abide to it again. So, brothers and nuns would thereafter feed from this same special monastic substance. This rule reflects well the aspirations of St. Augustine, his author. At the basis of his rule and as foundation to everything, he wrote: " Before all else, dear brothers, love God and then your neighbor. " In fact, for a long time, Augustine had been looking for a life of prayer and study. He was searching God: " How then do I seek Thee, O Lord? For when I seek Thee, my God, I seek a happy life. I will seek Thee, that my soul may live. For my body liveth by my soul; and my soul by Thee. " " Too late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new ! too late I loved Thee! And behold, Thou wert within, and I abroad, and there I searched for Thee; deformed I, plunging amid those fair forms which Thou hadst made. Thou wert with me, but I was not with Thee. Things held me far from Thee, which, unless they were in Thee, were not at all. " Augustine had discovered the God that Jesus was talking about, the God of charity, which may be the reason of his love for common life where "charity prevails in all things". In fact, "charity was recommended in such a manner by Christ and his apostles, that if it alone is missing, everything is missing, and, if it is present, everything is full." It may be also that his concern for charity led him to make it play a special part in the concept of authority in the Rule of his order. As a matter of fact, there is no existing master/follower relation between the superior and brothers (sisters) as there is in St. Benedict's rule or the older rule called the rule of the master. In fact, the relation of the brothers (sisters) with their superior is essentially within a brotherhood life attentive to God's Word and pressing towards Him. Hence, St. Augustine frequently quotes this verse of the Acts of the Apostles (ch 4,32): " Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. "


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