A
Brief Explanation of the Confederation of
Canons Regular of St Augustine
by Rev Anthony
Maggs
As Canons
Regular of the Lateran we frequently have to excuse ourselves for
our long name. It becomes even more difficult when we attempt to
explain our origins. Here I want to offer you a glimpse of the
wider Augustinian family.
| Within that family
there are a number of Congregations of Canons, founded
mainly since the 11th century which saw the introduction
of the reforms which gave new life to the Order. These
Congregations tended to emphasise a special aspect of
apostolic life ; others placed great store on scholarship
or a more contemplative way of life. The female branch of
the Order focused on prayer and the recitation of the
Divine Office. After
the War Canons from some of these different Congregations
began to meet and discuss whether it would be possible to
bring their communities together in a closer bond with
the purpose of mutual support and with the desire to
understand the teaching and rule of St Augustine better.
|
|
 St. Augustine of Hippo
|
Those plans bore
fruit in 1959, the ninth centenary of the Lateran reforms. With
the blessing of Pope John XX111 the Confederation of Canons
Regular came into being during a solemn Mass in the Basilica of
St John Lateran. On that day the Congregations of St Maurice,
Great St Bernard, Austria, Immaculate Conception, Windesheim and
Lateran were bound together in a bond of fraternal charity.
Statutes were
drawn up expressing the aims and purposes of the Confederation.
They agreed to meet regularly for study and publish their
findings. Every four years a Congress would be held. The
Congregations would take it in turns to put forward a candidate
for election as Abbot Primate of the Confederation.
This year (1998)
the Congress was held at La Pelouse, the pastoral centre run by
the Sister of St Maurice. About ninety Canons came together to
discuss the relevance of the Rule of St Augustine for today. The
Council of the Confederation had another task to perf orm. They
had to elect a new Abbot Primate in succession to Abbot Salina,
the Abbot of St Maurice. They elected me.
Following my
appointment I had to arrange to be blessed as Abbot. The ceremony
took place here at Christchurch on Saturday October 3rd 1998 at
midday with Cardinal Hume presiding. Please pray for me that I
will be able to meet all the expectations of our Order. Please
pray too for all the needs of the English Province.
(adapted from
an article by Fr A. Maggs in Friends News No.75)
