Discalced Augustinians

Order of Discalced Augustinians

Ordo Augustiniensium Discalceatorum
Abbreviation	OAD
Formation	1592; 432 years ago (1592)
Founded at	Naples, Italy
Type	Mendicant Order of Pontifical Right (for Men)
Headquarters	Santa Maria della Consolazione, Piazza Ottavilla, 1 00152 Rome
Members	221 (144 priests) as of 2018[1]
Motto	Latin: Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo (English: 'Your word has pierced my heart')
Prior General	Nei Marcio Simon, OAD
Vicar General	Renan William Ilustrisimo, OAD
Website	oadnet.org

The Order of Discalced Augustinians (Latin: Ordo Augustiniensium Discalceatorum; abbreviation: OAD) is a mendicant order that branched off from the Order of Saint Augustine as a reform movement.

During the Counter-Reformation, there was a special interest among the Augustinian friars in the theological debates of the day, as well as a need to return to the roots of their way of life.

In an effort to seek a more simple and spiritual life, various friars banded together and followed a pattern seen in other mendicant orders, in which simplicity of dress and a stricter form of a life of prayer and penance were embraced. The Discalced Augustinians were formed in 1610 in Italy as a reform movement of the Order and have their own constitutions, differing from those of the other Augustinians.

Among the Augustinians, there also was an effort to return to the eremitical origins of their Order. Their fasts are more rigorous and their other ascetic practices stricter. As with the Carmelite reform of the same period, these friars came to be known by their practice of wearing sandals, as opposed to shoes (thus the term discalced or barefoot), in an effort to live more like the poor.

This reform was approved by the 100th General Chapter of the Augustinian friars, which was held during May 1592 at the Friary of St. Augustine in Rome, motherhouse of the entire Order. The new branch which thus developed was approved by the Vatican as a separate Order in 1610.^[2]

Their current motherhouse is in Rome. Discalced Augustinians take a special fourth vow of humility.^[3]

As of 2018, there were about 220 friars, of which 144 were priests, in 38 houses located in Italy, Brazil and the Philippines.

Towards the end of the 16th century communities of female Discalced Augustinians appeared in Spain. The first convent, that of the Visitation, was founded at Madrid, in 1589, by Prudencia Grillo, a lady of noble birth, and received its Constitution from Father Alfonso of Orozco. Juan de Ribera, Archbishop of Valencia (d. 1611), founded a second Discalced Augustinian congregation at Alcoy, in 1597. It soon had houses in different parts of Spain, and in 1663 was established at Lisbon by Queen Louise of Portugal. In addition to the Rule of St. Augustine these religious observed the exercises of the Reformed Carmelites of St. Teresa.^[4]

A congregation of Augustinian nuns under the title "Sisters of St. Ignatius" was introduced into the Philippines and South America by the Discalced Augustinian Hermits. They worked zealously in aid of the missions, schools and orphanages in the island, and founded the colleges of Our Lady of Consolation and of St. Anne at Manila, and houses at Neuva Segovia, Cebú and Mandaloya on the Pasig, where they have done much for the education of girls.

• Thomas of Jesus, 16th century reformer and preacher, instrumental in creating the Discalced Augustinians
• Stefano da San Gregorio, 17th century mathematician and theologian

• The website of the Order (the English version is under construction)
• Address of Pope Francis to the General Chapter of the OAD, 2019