Augustinians are members of several Roman Catholic religious orders and congregations that live according to the Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo, a 4th–5th century bishop and theologian.

Quick Scoop: Who are the Augustinians?

  • They are a family of religious communities (men and women) in the Catholic Church whose way of life is based on Augustine’s short monastic rule, centered on shared life, prayer, and charity.
  • The most commonly named group is the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) , a mendicant order officially formed in the 13th century by uniting various hermit groups in Italy who already followed Augustine’s rule.
  • “Augustinian” can also refer more broadly to Augustinian Canons and Augustinian Hermits , plus their female branches, all shaped by the same spiritual tradition.

Origins and history

  • The Rule of St. Augustine was written for a Christian community he founded in Hippo (modern Algeria) around the late 4th–early 5th century, drawing inspiration from the communal life described in the Acts of the Apostles.
  • In the 11th–13th centuries, different groups of clergy and hermits adopted this rule; papal initiatives in the 1200s gathered several hermit communities into what became the unified Order of Saint Augustine (Augustinian Hermits / Austin friars).
  • Over time the order spread through Europe and beyond, taking part in preaching, education, missionary work, and local parish ministry.

How they live and what they value

  • Augustinians are consecrated religious who profess vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and they live in community rather than as solitary monks.
  • Their rule emphasizes: common life and sharing of goods, prayer, moderation and self‑denial, safeguarding chastity, fraternal correction, care for the sick, mutual forgiveness, and obedience to superiors.
  • Community, friendship in God, and the search for truth are central themes; one modern description highlights “unity and communion” as a distinctive charism of Augustinian life.

Branches and names

  • Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) : Mendicant order often called Augustinians, Austin friars, or Hermits of Saint Augustine; historically one of the major medieval mendicant families.
  • Augustinian Canons : Clergy who live a common life under Augustine’s rule while serving in pastoral and liturgical roles; they were early pioneers in combining priestly ministry with community life.
  • Female congregations and other institutes also follow the same rule and spirituality, so they are likewise described as Augustinian.

A quick real‑world snapshot

  • Augustinians today run parishes, schools, and universities, engage in missionary and social work, and promote Marian devotion, especially under the title “Our Lady of Good Counsel.”
  • They remain active worldwide and present themselves as international communities where people from diverse cultures live and serve together in a shared spiritual tradition.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.