Madrid, Spain. At the heart of the formative itinerary toward the ministerial priesthood, the Church provides stages that progressively configure the candidate with Christ. On May 3, 2026, the San Ezequiel Moreno Chapel, located in the house of formation of the Teologado of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria in Madrid, was the setting for a profound celebration of faith: the institution of the ministries of Lectorate and Acolytate for our brothers in formation.
The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Prior Provincial, Friar José David Niño Gómez, OAR, who was accompanied by the formative community, reaffirming the ecclesial and fraternal sense that characterizes the Augustinian Recollect charism.
The Lectorate: Servants of the Verbum in Interiority
The ministry of the lectorate is not reduced to a mere technical function of reading sacred texts before an assembly; it is, above all, a ministry of the voice lent to the Word. From the Augustinian perspective, Saint Augustine constantly reminds us of the dynamics of the Inner Master. The lector is the first listener of that Word. By proclaiming the Scriptures, the candidate assumes the commitment to let the Word first resonate within his interiority, transforming his understanding and his will.
As the motto that accompanied this celebration states: “Your Word is a lamp for my steps and a light on my path” (Ps 119:105). The lectorate demands making one’s life an embodied Gospel. The Augustinian Recollect friar who receives this ministry is called to be a faithful herald, remembering that the Word of God is not an inert text, but a living force that gathers, challenges, and builds up the community.
The Acolytate: Service to the Sacramentum Unitatis
For its part, the acolytate introduces the candidate into a singular intimacy with the Eucharistic mystery. The acolyte is called to serve at the altar, to prepare the gifts and, in specific circumstances, to distribute the Bread of Life. The liturgy teaches us that service to the altar is a reflection of service to one’s brothers.
For Saint Augustine, the Eucharist is the “sacrament of piety, sign of unity, and bond of charity.” By instituting these young men as acolytes, the Church invites them to offer themselves along with the bread and wine. Close contact with the sacred vessels and the altar must mold in them a heart ready for total self-giving. Learning to handle the Body of Christ at the altar is learning, simultaneously, to reverence the Body of Christ which is the Church, especially in the most vulnerable.
The Homily: A Call to Consistency and Self-Giving
During the homily, the Prior Provincial, Friar José David Niño, OAR, delved into the spiritual demands that these ministries entail, masterfully articulating the theology of the Word and of the Altar.
Friar José David reminded the candidates that “receiving the Lectorate implies that the Word you place on your lips today must already be inscribed in your hearts.” He emphasized that the service of proclamation is an act of humility, where the lector decreases so that it is Christ who speaks to His people.
Referring to the Acolytate, the Prior Provincial stressed the sacrificial dimension of the ministry: “You do not approach the altar only to assist materially in the liturgy, but to learn the dynamics of the gift. The bread that is broken on this altar is the model of the life you are called to live in community: a life broken and shared for the love of the Church.” His words were a vibrant invitation to live these ministries not as a privilege of status, but as a descent toward authentic service, in the style of Christ the Servant and following the Augustinian rule of love.
A Path That Continues in Communion
The institution of these ministries marks a milestone of grace for the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria. It is a palpable sign of the vitality of our charism and of the generous response of these brothers to the Lord’s call.
We entrust our friars of the Teologado to the intercession of Our Lady of Candelaria and Saint Ezequiel Moreno, asking the entire Augustinian Recollect family to continue accompanying the steps of these servants of the Altar and the Word with their prayers.
