Independent Augustinian communities are

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

religious communities that follow 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 ...

, but are not under the jurisdiction of the Prior General of the

Augustinian hermits The Order of Saint Augustine, ( la, Ordo Fratrum Sancti Augustini) abbreviated OSA, is a religious mendicant order of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1244 by bringing together several eremitical groups in the Tuscany region who were fo ...

in Rome. They include the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, the Augustinian Recollects, the Discalced Augustinian, and others. There is a spiritual link, through the common

with The Alexian Brothers (located in the US, Europe, England, Ireland the Philippines and India), the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (who established the

University of the Incarnate Word The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is a private, Catholic university with its main campus in San Antonio and Alamo Heights, Texas. Founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the university's main campus is located ...

in Texas), and the Sisters of St. Joan of Arc (in Quebec, United States, and Rome), and the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God.

Other branches

The two reform congregations are distinct orders in their own right.

Order of Discalced Augustinians

An offshoot from the hermit friars resulting from reform efforts. These "barefoot" Augustinians are called "discalced" because they wear sandals rather than shoes. They were founded about 1560 by Thomas a Jesu.

Order of Augustinian Recollects

Founded in Spain in 1592, the Augustinian Recollects are a religious order composed of approximately 1200 religious.

Canons Regular

Most of the congregations of Canons Regular follow the Rule of St/ Augustine.

Canons Regular of Saint Augustine

Whilst not being a branch of the Augustinian order, the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, who have been known in English as the "Black Canons," or the "Austin Canons," constitute one of the oldest and most prestigious

Latin Rite Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are Catholic rites of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church '' sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church, that originated in Europe where the Latin language onc ...

orders. This ancient order is made up of nine independent congregations confederated internationally in 1959, and the Confederation of Canons Regular of St Augustine elects an Abbot Primate.

Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception

The

Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception The Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception ( la, Congregatio Canonicorum Regularium Immaculatæ Conceptionis) are a Catholic religious order for men founded in France in 1871. They follow the Augustinian Rule and are part of the Order of Cano ...

, founded in France in 1871, belong to the Confederation of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine.

Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré

This order of Canons Regular (also known as "Norbertines") follows the Rule of St. Augustine, and were founded by

Norbert of Xanten Norbert of Xanten, O. Praem (c. 1075 – 6 June 1134) (Xanten-Magdeburg), also known as Norbert Gennep, was a bishop of the Catholic Church, founder of the Premonstratensian order of canons regular, and is venerated as a saint. Norbert was can ...

in 1120. At the end of the 20th century, there were more than one hundred Premonstratensian monasteries worldwide and over 1,500 canons, brothers, deacons, nuns and sisters.

Other congregations following the Rule of St. Augustine

Canon 13 of the

Fourth Council of the Lateran The Fourth Council of the Lateran or Lateran IV was convoked by Pope Innocent III in April 1213 and opened at the Lateran Palace in Rome on 11 November 1215. Due to the great length of time between the Council's convocation and meeting, many b ...

directed those who wished to found a new religious community to choose an existing approved rule.

Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God

Not an historical offshoot, but following the

, this institute was founded by the Portuguese Saint John of God in Spain during the 16th century. They conduct 231 health care and social welfare services throughout the world and are the official health care providers to the Pope.

Augustinians of the Assumption

The Assumptionists are a religious congregation of pontifical right, founded in France around 1845 by Emmanuel d'Alzon. The priests and brothers are active in teaching, communications, and mission work.

The Dominican friars

When

Saint Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scienti ...

obtained approval for his new Order of Preachers, he was directed to adopt an already existing rule. As a cathedral canon, he chose the Rule of St. Augustine. "He supplemented rule with legislation and customs borrowed from the Premonstratensians.""St. Dominic and the Dominican Tradition", Providence College
/ref> He also drew some monastic observances from

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

tradition. While the Dominicans follow an adapted Augustinian rule, they are a separate and distinct religious order that counts Augustine as one of its patrons.