In the quiet walls of an Augustinian monastery beats a life rich in prayer, community, and love for God. The Augustinian nuns, officially known as the Eremitical Nuns of Saint Augustine, are part of the great family of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA), living out a tradition that stretches back over sixteen centuries. Their way of life is inspired by Saint Augustine himself, who founded a “Monastery of the Servants of God” with his own sister as the first Prioress. From those early days to the present, the Augustinian nuns have continued to live in the spirit of his teaching: one heart and one soul, journeying together toward God.
 

A Unique Monastic Family

Each Augustinian monastery is autonomous (sui iuris) yet deeply connected, to its Federation, to the Order, and to the universal Church. The Prioress of each community serves as a Major Superior, receiving the vows of her Sisters and guiding them in their spiritual journey. Though independent, the monasteries are never isolated; they live in communion with the wider Augustinian family and the mission of the Church.
 

The Heart of the Augustinian Charism

At the core of their vocation is holy leisure (otium sanctum), a sacred stillness in which the soul is free to love God with an undivided heart. Far from idleness, this is an active resting in God, a space where prayer, study, and work flow together. In this life, love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable; the nuns see Christ in each Sister and in every person for whom they pray.
 

A Community of Equals

Life in an Augustinian monastery is marked by fraternity and equality. The Sisters share everything, material goods, talents, and even their struggles, in a spirit of mutual respect and service. Their life together mirrors the unity of the Holy Trinity and the fellowship of the early Church, where “no one claimed any of their possessions as their own” (Acts 4:32). In this equality, each Sister is encouraged to develop her gifts for the good of all.
 

Prayer at the Service of the Church

Though enclosed, the nuns’ hearts reach far beyond the cloister. They serve the People of God through constant prayer, the solemn beauty of the liturgy, and a life steeped in the Word of God. Their union with Christ in His Body, the Church, fuels a love that embraces the whole world—drawing all to God through intercession, gentle witness, and the quiet work of their hands.
 

The Purpose of it All

Everything in the life of an Augustinian nun, prayer, work, study, silence, and community, is ordered toward one goal: total transformation in Christ. In the rhythm of monastic life, the Sisters seek to become living reflections of His love, drawing others to Him by the simple yet profound witness of a life wholly given to God.