126 Boletin filipinas-1 - agustinos de la provincia del santisimo ...

4Mensaje del Prior GeneralENEROMARZOGreeting to the Boards of Directors of the Estudio TeológicoAgustiniano of ValladolidAT the beginning of this meeting, as Presidentof the Board of Directors and as Prior Generalof the Order of St. Augustine, I would like toextend a cordial greeting and offer a few wordsof welcome and introduction to the othermembers of this Board: to His Excellency BishopRicardo Blázquez, Archbishop of Valladolid andFirst Vice-President, and to the four PriorsProvincial of the Augustinian Provinces in Spain.Thank you for your presence and for yourparticipation in this endeavor, which has greatimportance for the life of the Augustinian Order,with its long tradition of studies in the area ofthe ecclesiastical sciences, and especiallyTheology.This is not the time to speak about so manyAugustinians who, throughout the Order’s history,have been recognized as outstanding theologians.However, it does seem appropriate to speak for amoment about our father Saint Augustine andalso about what we can call the “theologicalcharism” of the Order.Among the many traits that illustrate the greatpersonality of Augustine of Hippo and whichilluminate his experience both as a man and as aChristian, without a doubt his passionate searchfor truth and his reflection upon the mystery ofGod stands out in a special way. To know in adeep way God and humanity (Deum et animam)was, in Augustine’s own words, the object of hisvital and intellectual restlessness.Thus we can recognize a logical continuitybetween his philosophy and his theology, as wellas with Augustine’s decision to consecrate himselftotally to God and in his fruitful service to theChurch. As Nourrison affirms, if to be aphilosopher means to love the truth, to lovewisdom, few men have so merited this title asdoes Augustine. The search for truth along thepathway of interiority and the study of Scriptureled Augustine to his conversion and then to hisbecoming a great theologian, examining themystery of the Trinity, of the Church, of grace andof the history of salvation.Already in Italy in the year 388, immediately afterhis conversion, Augustine began to reflect uponfaith, to do theology and to write theology, withan apologetical work on Christian morality (Demoribus ecclesiae catholicae...). This was atheological work that would continue withoutinterruption, for more than 40 years, enriched byhis personal reflection, and in dialogue with hisdisciples and his adversaries, as well as by thedemands of his pastoral responsibilities.Inspired by St. Augustine and faithful also to itsmendicant origins, the Order of St. Augustine hasalways sought to cultivate the contemplativedimension of his life, and to dedicate itself toserious study of the sacred sciences, in responseto the demands of our vocation itself as well asout of a profound desire to serve the Church. Asstated in our Constitutions: As our Holy FatherAugustine teaches, studies constitute an excellentmeans of intellectual formation and the perfectingof human and religious life; foster communitydialogue; equip us for a more adequate response tothe apostolic mission entrusted to us by theChurch, which is responsible for the evangelizationof culture. For this reason, the Order should beready to offer the Church the service of her studiesas a particular dimension of pastoral commitment”(Const. OSA, 124).Today as well, the Order of Saint Augustine wishesto offer her charism to the Church, and toparticipate in the mission to study and to teach,to search for and to understand from the basis offaith the value and the meaning of life and ofhuman history. This is the mission of Theology,and for this reason I am happy to acknowledgeand encourage the fact that our Order is takingon this new responsibility in the Center of Studiesin Valladolid, as an Aggregated Center of theTheological Faculty of Burgos.I express my gratitude to all of you for yourpresence, and sincere gratitude to all those whohave worked to bring the Augustinian Center ofStudies in Valladolid to this new level in itsservice to the Church. Congratulations!Madrid, February 28, 2013P. Robert F. Prevoste O.S.A.Prior General