During the intense seasons of Lent and Advent, it is customary for members of the Augustinian Recollect Secular Fraternities (SAR) who live close enough geographically to make it easy to travel in a single day to gather for a spiritual retreat.
It serves not only to prepare, in this case, for Easter, as the primary feast of the Catholic faith, but also to reinforce the ideals, charism and spiritual experience of the SAR itself, which follows the life proposal of Saint Augustine and the Recollection adapted to the reality of secular life.
For this reason, on February 28, members of the SAR from the geographical center of Spain were summoned to the Saint Augustine formation house in Las Rozas, specifically from the parishes of Saint Rita (with participants from the Spanish and Chinese sections), Saint Monica and Saint Florentina in Madrid capital; Our Lady of Good Sight in Getafe and Las Rozas (Community of Madrid); and Valladolid.
According to the program prepared by the National Council, after a few minutes of rehearsal of the liturgical chants, at ten o’clock the Eucharist began along with the recitation of Lauds, with the participation of five of the religious attendees from these six SAR and other members of the Las Rozas community.
During the Eucharist, the congregation reflected on the day’s Gospel reading: love for one’s enemies and prayer “for those who persecute you,” applying its words not only to the laity but also to religious. The hymns, which had been rehearsed beforehand, were sung with gusto, accompanied by the harmonium.
Next, Isabel and Inmaculada Valerio, belonging to SAR Santa Rita, gave the interesting talk “The Way of the Cross: from Lent to Easter”, filled with thoughts and short texts from Saint Augustine and the message for Lent 2026 from Pope Leo XIV.
A radiant sun allowed for a short break outdoors before splitting into small groups to answer some questions that encouraged reflection on the topics of the previous talk.
Later, the meal was then shared, which was also an occasion to celebrate the birthday of a member of the local community of Las Rozas, further enlivening the atmosphere and adding notes of joy.
In the afternoon, the Augustinian Recollect Antonio Antón gave the conference “On the path of mercy”, with six main points: a time to return to the Lord; the God who goes before us (parables of mercy); conversion as a return to God, to our brothers and to the truth of life; the wound of sin and the need for a new perspective; the mission that is born of mercy and charity that recognizes the dignity of our brothers.
Next, Montserrat Estebaranz, a SAR of Saint Rita, offered her vivid testimony of the international volunteering carried out for forty days at the Saint Monica Home of the Augustinian Recollects in Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil), a center that welcomes girls and adolescents sent by the competent civil authorities for having suffered or being at serious risk of suffering abandonment, violence, abuse, exploitation or any violation of their fundamental rights.
Her testimony moved everyone and prompted a deep awareness of the need to act in defense of so many very vulnerable people who are daily victims of extremely serious situations.
To bring the Lenten retreat to a close, the day concluded with Eucharistic adoration, led by Antonio Antón; and, before the farewell, some final instructions to encourage the joint activities of the Fraternities.
Give me a drink: when God thirsts for us