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The Order of Saint Augustine of Canterbury

admin Posted at 11:46 on Wed, 04/02/2008
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Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren

The Order of Saint Augustine of Canterbury is an Episcopal Third Order that was founded in 1988. The Order received official recognition in 1989. Saint Augustine of Canterbury, the Order’s Patron Saint exemplified Christian faith as he ministered in England in 596 A.D. With feelings of despair and loneliness, Saint Augustine spread and consolidated the Christian faith in England.

Therefore, the Order attempts, to “strengthen the Church by first giving ourselves to God, and then to give prayerful support, encouragement and assistance to other members of the Order and others not of the Order so that they, like Saint Augustine, may also spread the faith.” The Order, chose the motto “In Christi nominee” (In Christ’s name).

Specifically, the Order is “to assist the Church in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ … [by] assist[ing] local parishes by serving as lay ministers, catechists, Sunday school teachers, ministers of youth or nursing homes, acolyth or choir masters, organists, editors of parish newsletters and organize and assist in retreats, Quite Days, etc.” (Order’s Constitution, Article II: Purpose)

The Rule

The Order is dedicated to serving the Church by using the ministries of single and married men to spread the gospel. As with other Third Orders, members provide their own livelihood through secular and religious employment and have their own individual living quarters.

The first stage of membership is that of the Novice. The Novice, vows to an extended testing period of no less than one year. Vows of the Novice are either taken in front of the Abbot, the Novice’s parish priest or a professed member selected by the Abbot. The purpose of this first stage is to allow the Abbot time necessary in determining if the candidate has a true ‘calling’ and for the Novice to discern if he is called of God into this form of religious life. At the end of the year period, the council will either propose the Novice into the second stage or advise the candidate that he is unsuited to this form of religious life.

The second stage is that of Professed Member. The Professed Member takes the Order’s vows that consist of obedience, service and responsibility.

Obedience is to God the Trinity and acknowledgement of Christ Jesus as their lord and personal savior. One must also vow acceptance to the scriptures, creeds, catechism and canons of the Church.

The service of the Professed Member is to spread the good news of Christ Jesus and to spread the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. “A member will fully develop those talents given him by God i.e. in liturgy, music, education, arts, etc.” (Order’s official handout) These talents will be used in service to his parish, diocese and order.

Finally the third promise of the Professed Member is responsibility. The members of the Order must be responsible and set good examples. Members are expected to be upright citizens of their community, be diligent and honest in their secular employment and support themselves or family (if married).

Besides the aforementioned promises, members are to be faithful in attending their parish services. They are to place prayer as a top priority and to work daily in an attempt to deepen their spiritual lives so they may spread the word of Christ through preaching and teaching Christ’s gospel. At Easter Season, members are also to send the Abbot the member’s proposed apostolic activities for the forthcoming year.

Finally, members of the order are required to meet for spiritual retreats, business and fellowship no less than once every three years. From time to time, additional meeting are held. “Members of the Order living in proximity of each other are encouraged to meet together as often as possible for fellowship and devotion.” (Order’s official handout)

The Habit

The habit of the Novice is flax with “hooded cassock alb extending to the ankles, girded about with a rope cincture of black.” (Order’s official handout) The cross of the Order is always worn with the habit. The Professed Member’s habit is also “a flax hooded cassock alb extending to the ankles … and girded about by a rope cincture of black on the right side. …There [is] a black scapular to the point within the hem of the cassock alb with a silver metallic Celtic cross embroidered in the front, centered two inches from the right hem.” (Order’s official handout).

The Order’s Cross as a Ecclesiastical Decoration

The Cross of The Order of Saint Augustine of Canterbury is awarded occasionally by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In a Church correspondent from the Sub-Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations letter to The Most Reverend and Right Hon. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (19 August 1964), it was suggested that the Cross was established as a junior award to that of the Lambeth Cross and that its recipients be “restricted to ecclesiastics and laymen belonging to foreign Churches who have contributed conspicuously to advancing friendly relations with the Churches of the Anglican Communion.”

The Cross is given in three classes, gold, silver, and bronze. The type of Cross is determined according to the importance of the services rendered. A Diploma is also provided to the recipient similar to those submitted in the case of Crown Orders.

Regarding the award, the design is that of the Canterbury Cross and is worn by ecclesiastics around the neck and by laymen from a ribbon of the same color from the breast.

* Documents obtained by Prof. Carl Edwin Lindgren from Brother Garland E. Pendergraph, Ph.D., OSD, General Secretary, The Order of Saint Augustine of Canterbury. Documents did not possess titles or page numbers.