Articles from the month of December!
Encountering One Another in the Joy of Hope
Novitiate Community of the Order of Saint Augustine
The Novitiate Community of the Order of Saint Augustine joyfully celebrated Christmas under the theme “Encountering One Another in the Joy of Hope,” last December 22, 2025. The event brought together religious, novices, staff, and lay collaborators to share in the grace and joy of the Lord’s Nativity.Guided by Augustinian spirituality, the celebration invited each member to return to the interior life and encounter God, the source of truth and love. As Saint Augustine teaches: “Do not go outside; return within yourself. Truth dwells in the inner person” (Noli foras ire, in te ipsum redi; in interiore homine habitat veritas). Through prayer, meditation, and spiritual sharing, participants reflected on the mystery of the Incarnation and allowed the Light of Christmas to illuminate their daily lives.
The program also featured moments of fraternal interaction and simple games, fostering a joyful and welcoming atmosphere while strengthening bonds within the community. In this way, the Augustinian ideal of fraternity—“one mind and one heart directed toward God” (unum cor et anima in Deum)—was expressed in a tangible and meaningful way.
The gathering concluded in thanksgiving and peace, with the light of the Christ Child continuing to guide the community in faith, hope, and love. As Saint Augustine prayed: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You” (Confessions I,1).
This Christmas celebration marked a meaningful milestone for the Novitiate Community, strengthening spiritual life, fraternal communion, and a spirit of service, so that the Light of Christmas may continue to shine throughout the Augustinian Family and the mission of the Order.
St. Augustine on Prayer: A Journey of Prayerful Waiting for Christ.
During the season of Advent—a sacred time marked by longing, expectation, and hopeful waiting for the coming of Christ—the novices held their recollection on December 13, 2025, as part of their spiritual preparation for the season. Centered on the theme “St. Augustine on Prayer: A Journey of Prayerful Waiting for Christ,” the recollection invited the novices into deeper reflection and prayer. It was led by Rev. Fr. John Jericho Mier, OSA, who served as the recollection master.
The recollection further invited the novices to see and embrace Advent as a time to purify their thoughts and desires, deepen their interior longing, and cultivate a prayerful vigilance that keeps their hearts attentive to God’s action. Throughout the recollection, Fr. Mier provided the novices with an abundant source of knowledge and insight regarding prayer, St. Augustine’s understanding of prayer, and its importance in spiritual life. He further expanded on how prayer affects the person and shapes one’s relationship with the Lord, emphasizing that prayer is a dialogue with God—not a mere recitation of words, but an intimate conversation with Him. When practiced authentically, prayer deepens one’s relationship with God. It is a cry that springs from the heart, for God listens to our prayers not only through our words but through our hearts.
Above all, prayer must be understood as desire—a longing for the Lord—since it lies at the very heart of our search for God. In line with St. Augustine’s emphasis on interiority, prayer draws us inward, leading us into a deeper communion with God.
Thus, Advent becomes a season of interior expansion, allowing God to prepare us for His coming—a spiritual journey undertaken both personally and communally. Highlighting the importance of prayer in religious life, Fr. Mier shared insights on how St. Augustine emphasizes the essential role of prayer in the common search for God. It is through prayer that this shared journey is strengthened; through prayer that faith is deepened, desires are purified, and love is expanded.
To pray is to desire Christ. To wait is to open the heart. With St. Augustine as our guide, we enter Advent as a journey of longing, love, and prayerful expectation. The recollection served as a timely reminder for the novices to deepen their relationship with God through prayer during this sacred season of Advent.