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Latin America - 03

 
The work of the Augustinians in Mexico was outstanding.
 
One problem, however, which probably was almost unavoidable, was the tension between the religious orders and the diocesan bishops regarding their respective rights and cresponsibilities; at times this dialogue became quite acrimonious.
 
Augustinian churches and houses were built in the principal places of Mexico and became the centres of Christian religion, art, and civilisation.
 
The patio (cloister, clausura, choistro) of the former monastery (convento) of Saint Augustine at Queretaro is one of the most beautiful examples of stone-carving in America.
 
Constructed between 1731 and 1736, the building is now a public museum of art. ( Go to
 
Some of these churches and religious houses they built are still in use, although no longer in possession of the Order. (To go to Augnet's page on them, click here.)
 
During the 16th and 17th centuries when the bishops in Latin America obtained more priests, churches and houses of the Order were handed over to them.
 
For example, between 1754 and 1782, fifty eight houses of the Province of Mexico were handed over to the local church.
 
In the year 1790, the Province of Mexico had eleven remaining houses, and one of these was located in Guatemala, and another in Havana, Cuba (suppressed by force in 1842) was for the training of candidates for the Order.

In the year 1859 the Reform Laws of the government suppressed all religious houses and expelled their members, and this situation lasted for about fifty years.

The second province of the Order in Mexico (i.e., the Province of Michoacan) began the 19th century with 11 houses and 150 members. By a government declaration on 20th December 1827, all Spanish religious men had to leave Mexico.

The Province of Michoacan thereby lost thirty-three members, and an epidemic of cholera in 1833 took another forty-seven members.

The civil war around 1858 caused a division in leadership in the Province, at a time when it was desperately required.
 
Of the eleven houses suppressed in 1859, only two had been partially recovered by 1877. These were located at Yuriria (see link below) and Cuitzeo.

There were twenty-two members in the Province in 1877. Some of them lived outside of Augustinian community.
 
Often for reasons of distance, they lived in the house belonging to the parish that stood beside the church at which they served.

Both Mexican provinces are still functioning.
 
(Continued on the next page.)
 
Photos (at right):

In the Parish of Saint Augustine, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Picture 1: Belen vivente, a "living Nativity" in the parish church.
Picture 2: Sale in aid of the Augustinian Mission at Salta, northern Argentina.

Picture 3:
Book shop in the parish.

Link

Yuriria. Five large photographs of the Augustinian church at Yuriria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriria
ID2623

 

St Augustine :

St Augustine :

St Augustine :

Latin America - 03
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Latin America -04
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Latin America - 06
Latin America - 07
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