The continuing Monastery of the Holy Saviour at Lecceto in

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze''). Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...

, was the principal House of the order of the Hermit Friars of Saint Augustine (not to be confused with the Augustinian

Canons Regular Canons regular are priests who live in community under a rule ( and canon in greek) and are generally organised into religious orders, differing from both secular canons and other forms of religious life, such as clerics regular, designated by a ...

) in 1256, when

Pope Alexander IV Pope Alexander IV (1199 or 1185 – 25 May 1261) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 December 1254 to his death in 1261. Early career He was born as Rinaldo di Jenne in Jenne (now in the Province of Rome), he ...

constituted the Augustinian order internationally. It was dedicated to Saint Saviour.

History

On 4 May 1256

issued a papal bull ''Licet ecclesiae catholicae''Licet ecclesiae catholicaeBullarium Taurinense, 3rd ed., 635 sq. issued on 4 May 1256 uniting five Monastic congregations into the Tuscan community of Lecceto. The other four were the houses of St. William, of Brother John Bono, of Favale and of Brettine. From this act of union, the modern Order expanded rapidly, and it is from this act of union that Tuscany is regarded as the homeland of the modern Augustinian Friars, and Lecceto is its principal monastic house. Lecceto became a centre of reform for the Augustinians, and developed methods of encouraging a more faithful practise of the

Augustinian Rule The Rule of Saint Augustine, written about the year 400, is a brief document divided into eight chapters and serves as an outline for religious life lived in community. It is the oldest monastic rule in the Western Church. The rule, developed b ...

, and the Constitutions of the Order. At its height, Lecceto was the Monastic house of four of the order's most distinguished Priors General. From the

Observant Congregation Observant may refer to: * Making an observation * Having observance of a ** holiday (public, religious, etc.) ** religious law or spiritual practice (worship, diet, taboo, etc.) * Observant, Franciscan friar * The Observants, one-eyed ghosts i ...

of Lecceto, other like-minded groups developed over the centuries, including the Observant Congregation of

Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...

where

Martin Luther Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Reformation, Protestant Refo ...

was

professed A vow ( Lat. ''votum'', vow, promise; see vote) is a promise or oath. A vow is used as a promise, a promise solemn rather than casual. Marriage vows Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a weddin ...

. Probably the most famous member of the Lecceto community was

William Flete William Flete was a 14th-century Augustinian hermit friar, a contemporary and great friend of St. Catherine of Siena. Biography The exact place and date of his birth are unknown and those of his death are disputed. He was an English mystic, and ...

, an Englishman. In 1359, when Flete was about to attain his Master of theology degree at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, he had a change of heart and chose to leave England and go to Lecceto to intensify his experience of

contemplation In a religious context, the practice of contemplation seeks a direct awareness of the divine which transcends the intellect, often in accordance with prayer or meditation. Etymology The word ''contemplation'' is derived from the Latin word '' ...

. He stayed for the remainder of his life. He became regarded by his contemporaries as a master of the spiritual life. He was a personal confidant of

St. Catherine of Siena Catherine of Siena (Italian: ''Caterina da Siena''; 25 March 1347 – 29 April 1380), a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, was a mystic, activist, and author who had a great influence on Italian literature and on the Catholic Church. ...

. By 1968 of the modern era, the monastery had declined, and the roof had fallen in. In that year, the Dominican bishop of Sienna decided that he wanted to revitalise Lecceto Augustinian spirituality at Sienna. He began a project to restore it, and to invite the Augustinian contemplatives to transfer their community there.

Augustinian nuns Augustinian nuns are the most ancient and continuous segment of the Roman Catholic Augustinian religious order under the canons of contemporary historical method. The Augustinian nuns, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are sever ...

arrived back in 1972. The re-established community of Augustinians there have revived the Augustinian tradition of contemplation. The monastery welcomes overnight guests, who are also welcome to join the nuns at the Divine Office.

Notes

Sources and external links

Order of St Augustine, International HomepageAugustinian Abbey of St. Thomas at Brno
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lecetto Augustinian monasteries in Italy Augustinian nunneries