Spirituality
The Augustinians
| St. Augustine's church in the heart of Limerick city is in the care of the Augustinians who trace their origins back to St. Augustine of Hippo in North Africa, to his spirit and spirituality. In 1256, a number of scattered communities following the Rule of St. Augustine came together under one Prior General. They quickly spread through Western Europe. By the end of the 13th Century they had expanded into Ireland and to Limerick. The key elements of the Augustinian tradition: |
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- A strong sense of Christian community and friendship.
- The restless search for God, for his love and truth.
- The invitation to form communities to embody Gospel ideals and the challenge of St. Augustine to be “one in mind and heart on our way to God” (St. Augustine).
- To offer companionship to men and women making their journey to the heart.
- To serve the local church, adapting ministry to the needs of the times.
Prayer to St. Augustine § Prayer to St. Monica
The names of Monica and her son Augustine are inseparable. Every mother who has worried or prayed over a wayward child can identify with St. Monica. As a young man, Augustine had drifted away from his faith into a series of love affairs, strange cults and wild excesses. He was always in trouble. His mother never gave up on him. Her persistent prayers and tears for her son’s conversion were finally answered when Augustine, with his mother at his side went to hear St. Ambrose preaching in Milan and he opened his heart to God's love from the Scriptures. A bishop had already told St. Monica that it was not possible for the son of these tears to perish. Before her death in 387, mother and son shared a mystical experience at a window in the port town of Ostia.
Windows and Shrines of the Limerick ChurchIn the following pages we take you on a spiritual tour of the O'Connell St church. When you visit the church itself, we invite you to begin a "walk in faith" guided by these spiritual landmarks. Click on the links below to go to each page.
Main Stained Glass Window (Scenes from the life of Augustine)
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