HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF AUGUSTINIAN

RECOLLECTS
(In the World in General and in the Philippines in Particular)
with the
HISTORY OF THE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT SISTERS OF THE
PHILIPPINES

IN THE WORLD

Second half of 1500 (16th century) - the Augustinian Recollects trace their origins
to the Catholic counter-Reformationi that occurred in this era which was
represented by the Council of Trent, Italy (19th ecumenical council, 1545 -1563).
This catholic movement is a response to the intended Reformation caused by the
Protestants (Martin Luther, an Augustinian friar).

1588 – December 5, the Augustinian Province of Castille,ii gathered in the city of

Toledo, Spain approved the collective inspiration of a group of Augustinians who
“so desirous of monastic perfection … would want to follow a more austere plan
of life …”iiiThis definition marks the birth of the Order, which also sets the line of
their way of life. Such is the “transcending Augustinian interiorization …the interior
life, or recollectioniv … the path that leads straight to contemplation, community
and the apostolate.”v Their first convent was in Talavera de la Reina, in Toledo
City. (The Order is 432 years old today).

1602 – the Holy see made the Recollection into another Province of the
Augustinian Order named the “Province of Saint Augustine of the Discalced
Recollect Friars of Spain.”vi (This signals the beginning of the separation of the
Recollection from the Augustinian Order. Discalced means “unshod, without
shoes”, symbol of asceticism and penance at that time).

1604 – another reform movement sprang up among the Augustinians in Colombia

(South Amrica) centered at the monastery of El Desiero de la Candelaria. In 1629,
it was incorporated to the Spanish Recollection, becoming the 5th Province of the
Congregation.vii

1605 – the new province decided to go to the missions. This move follows more
closely the Augustinian model of blending action and contemplation. VIIIThe first
Recollects arrived in the Philippines in May 1606, landing first in Cebu, proceeding
to Manila at the end of the month, thus completing their charism according to the
spirit of St. Augustine. (The Philippines, happily, receives the honor of being the
first official field of active apostolate [missions] of the Augustinian Recollect
Order).
 IN THE PHILIPIINE ISLANDS

The pioneering group of Recollect missionaries was composed of 14 religious,

10 priests and 4 Brothers. Before landing in the Philippines, one of them died while
on the sea, leaving 13 of them to reach our shores.viii They settled first in
Bagumbayan [now Luneta] and the next year, in 1607, entered Intramuros.

1607 – the Recoletos missionaries right away went to the mountains of

Zambales and Bataan which became their very first missions in the Philippines
founding in 1607 Mariveles, Subic and Masinloc among others. In Zambales, Fr.
Miguel de la Madre de Dios died after having been stoned, and is considered the
Protomartyr of the Recollects in the Philippines.ix

IN THE WORLD

1621 – the Holy See elevated the Province to the rank of a religious Congregation
called the “Congregation of the Discalced of our Father St. Augustine of Spain and
the Indies”. It had four member Provinces namely: 1. Castille (St. Augustine) 2.
Aragon (Our Lady of Pillar) 3. Andalucia (St. Thomas of Villanova) 4. Philippines (St.
Nicholas of Tolentine). x

IN THE PHILIPPINES

1622 –the Recollects accepted the missions in Mindanao founding in this

year Cagayan de Oro,, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag, Dinagat, Bislig, and Davao
(Vergara before) in 1847, among others. (Strangely, the Recoletos are almost
forgotten in Mindanao).xi

1622 – while serving Mindanao, the zealous Recollects responded to the call
of evangelizing the Calamian Islands and Paragua (Palawan); the first 5
missionaries under Fr. Juan de Sto. Tomas arrived in Cuyo in this year; they
founded in the same year Cuyo itself, Agutaya and Taytay. The greatest hindrance
of the missionaries in these islands is the frequent attacks of the muslim pirates,
hence the presence in Palawan of many forts that were built to protect the
faithful. So many missionaries suffered cruel death in the hands of the muslims. xii

1635 – the Recoletos founded the towns of Romblon and Banton and other
towns in this group of islands at later dates.xiii

1679 - the Recoletos came to administer the island of Mindoro that was
already partly evangelized by the Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits and the
diocesan clergy. They still founded new towns like Sablayan (1819), Puerto Galera
(1843), Lubang (1881), Mamburao (1887).xiv
 THE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT SISTERSxv

*1719 - the Talangpaz blood sisters, Dionisia and Cecilia Rosaleft Calumpit,
Bulacan for the shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in San Sebastian de Calumpang.
With 2 other native “beatas” they formed the Beaterio de San Sebastian.
*1725 –” they received investiture as Recollect tertiaries
*c. 1726 – the Recollects suppressed the Beaterio, defrocked the sisters who
returned to their house in Bilibid Viejo
* 1728 – re-investiture of the Talangpaz Sisters
* 1731 – Mo. Cecilia Rosa professed her simple vows in articulo mortis
(death: July 31)
* 1732 – Mo. Dionisia professed her simple vows in articulo mortis (death:
Oct. 12)
*1756 - the King of Spain bestowed royal protection to the Beaterio

IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

1768 - the ever-ready Recollects also administered, upon request of the

bishop, the islands of Cebu, Camotes, Bohol with Siquijor. Even if Cebu had been
Christianized much earlier, the Recollects were still able to found the towns of
Carmen (1851), Compostela (1863), Consolacion (1871). In Bohol, among the
many towns founded by the Recollects are Panglao (1782), Loay (1799), Talibon
(1831), Tubigon (1851), Dueo (1863) and Ubay (1876).xvi

IN THE WORLD

1835 – 37 – the Order experienced profound suffering and change. The

expropriation of monasteries by the liberalist government in Spain stripped the
Recollects of their convents and property that created obstacle to their life in
community.xvii

IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

1848 – the Recollects took over the spiritual care of the island of Negros
which became one of their glorious achievements. Founding many towns, now
cities like Guijulngan, Cadiz, Victorias and San Carlos. It was in Negros that Fr.
Fernando Cuenca contributed to the promotion of its famous sugar industry.xviii

1861 - the Recollects were ordered to cede to the Jesuits portions of the
Mindanao mission areas and in exchange they were to be given territories in Luzon
under the |Archbishop of Manila. This was the reason why the Recollects came to
administer in the now provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite. Still, in
Cavite, they founded the towns of Carmona (1856), (Perez-) Dasmariñas (1866),
Amadeo (1884), In Las Piñas, Rizal, Fr. Diego Cera built the exquisite Bamboo
Organ, the only of its kind in the world.xix

1870 – arrival of Fray Exekiel Moreno in Manila, and was ordained priest at
the Manila cathedral in 1871

1872 – Fr. Ezekiel Moreno was assigned missionary and chaplain of the
expedition to Pto. Princesa, and is considered as co-founder of the now city of Pto.
Princesa. He visited and founded Irawan, Inagawan and Aborlan communities. xx

1898 – the Philippine Revolution where 33 Recollects died in the hands of the
revolutionaries, and 84 others captured and imprisoned. The congregation found
itself with 300 confused and desperate religious.xxi

IN THE WORLD

1899 – the Recollects overcame the obstacle of the day orienting themselves to
new missionary horizons, the Americas. By middle of this year, more than 30
religious were already in Panama. Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia.

THE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT SISTERS

*1907 –inauguration Of the Beaterio chapel. Foundation of St. Rita College.

All the Beatas professed simple vows.xxii

IN THE WORLD

1912 – the Recollect Congregation was elevated to an Order with full juridical
autonomy by Pope Pius X through the Brief “Religiosas Familias”. The name of the
Order – Order of the Recollect Hermits of St. Augustine, since 1912 – Order of the
Recollects of St. Augustine (ORSA) in 1927 –Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR)
in 1966.xxiii

THE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT SISTERS

 1929 (July 16) – Canonical erection of the Beaterio de San Sebastian as a

Diocesan congregation by Archbishop Michael O’Doherty of Manila. All the Beatas
could now
take perpetual vows.
 1970 (Nov. 20) – Pope Paul VI issued the Decrtetum Laudis in favor of the
Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters as a religious institute of
pontifical rights.
  1999 – formal opening of the Cause of Beatification of the Talangpaz
Sisters at San Sebastian Basilica.
IN THE PHILIPPINES

1963 – arrival of the Recollects in Taiwan; 1990 – arrival of first Filipino

Recollects
1992 – arrival of the OAR contemplative nuns to reside in Bacolod City;
canonization of St. Ezekiel Moreno in Sto. Domingo, Dominican Republic
1997 - arrival of the Recollects in Africa, two of whom were Filipinos
1998 – the Philippines became the eighth Province of the Orderxxiv
2005 – return of the Recollects to Palawan administering the parish at
Inagawan, Pto. Princesa
2006 – celebration of the 400 years of the Recollect presence in the
Philippines and Asia coinciding with the 3rd OAR Mission Congress in Manila.
Attended by 7
Recollect bishops from all over the world
2016 – re=organization of the Order into only 4 Provinces; St. Ezekiel
Moreno is the 4th Province
i
Augustinian Recollects, THE RULE, CONSTITUTIONS, ADDITIONAL CODE. Rome: 2012, p.401
ii
Op. cit. , p. 64
iii
Op. cit., p.66
iv
Emphasis mine
v
Op. cit., p.70
vi
Op. cit., p. 402
vii
Op. cit., p. 404
viii
Keeping the Fire Ablaze, DIRECTORY OF RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITIES, Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno. Quezon City:
Recoletos Communications, Inc., 2009, p.23.
ix
Fr. Gregorio Fidel de Blas de la Asuncion, LABOR EVANGELICA de los Padres Agustinos Recoletos. Zaragoza:
Establecimiento tipografico de Pedro Carra, 1910, pp. 14=15.
x
Keeping the Fire Ablaze, etc., p.23
xi
Fr.. Gregorio Fidel de Blas, etc., pp. 19=21
xii
Op cit., pp. 22-23
xiii
Op. cit., p. 27
xiv
Op. cit., pp. 29-30
xv
Keeping the Fire Ablaze, etc. p.176
xvi
Fr. Gregorio Fidel de Blas, etc., pp.33 -38
xvii
Augustinian Recollects, etc., p.404
xviii
Fr.. Gregorio Fidel de Blas, etc., pp. 43-45
xix
Op. cit., pp. 39-41
xx
Edited & Trans.: Emmanuel Luis A. Romanillos. Enrique A, Eguiarte, OAR & Angel Martinez Cuesta, Holiness and Heroic
Witnesses: Augustinian Recollect Saints and Blessed. Quezon City: OAR, Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, 2014, pp. 6-7
xxi
Who Was Augustine?. Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 1997, p 42
xxii
Keeping, etc., p. 177
xxiii
Op cit., p.25
xxiv
Op. cit. pp. 109 -- 113