5. – The history of the Order also provides illustrious examples

The history of the Order also provides illustrious examples of brothers who have defended the rights of the weakest, above all in violent situations or in the face of their violation. By its very nature, the Order embraces the cause of the poor willingly, due to our mendicant origins and by virtue of our vow of poverty. Our life style constitutes in itself a manner of being in solidarity with those who are materially poor due to a lack of opportunities. The proper interpretation of the sharing of goods, a value essential to our Augustinian spirituality, is that it must be reflected not only within the local community, on the Provincial level and that of the Order in general, but also open to the social dimension of our goods with all humanity. Together with the Church we are called to embrace the cause of the poor, accompanying them in their process of growth and awareness of their dignity, so that they can fulfill their calling as persons and as Christians.

Some of our brothers at different times in our history have had special significance in the defense of the dignity of each person and in the promotion of peace, based on justice. Some figures worth mentioning in this regard are blessed Simon of Cascia, Simon of Camerino, St. John of Sahagún, St. Thomas of Villanova , Luis de Lion, Abraham of Santa Clara, and Nicholas Wite of Flanders.

But where we find the most notable models in the defense of the rights and dignity of the most forsaken is in connection with the first evangelization of America. Alonso de la Veracruz is, certainly, the most important defender of human rights in the history of our Order. In De dominio infidelium et justo bello (1554) he published his university lessons on the human rights of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, while in De decimis (1555) he defended their exemption from the ecclesiastic tax.

The Augustinian bishop Luis López de Solís, whose diocesan process of beatification was brought to a close September 11 of this year in Lima, as well as bishop Augustine de la Coruña, also in process of beatification, were both Augustinian shepherds who distinguished themselves not only in the defense of their flock, but also by their respect for indigenous peoples, recognizing and defending their human and Christian dignity.

In defense of the indigenous people of the Philippines Rev. Martín of Rada is significant, insisting in his reports to the authorities on obedience to the laws in defense of the indigenous people, against the abuses committed by soldiers.

These examples, flourishing throughout the history of our Order, should serve as a stimulus to us who live in an intellectual society and, theoretically, one much more aware of the problems concerning the dignity of each person, spurring us on to be promoters of this cause in society and in the Church. "The mystery of the incarnation (Cf. Jo 1,14) means solidarity with our weaker brothers. And so, we Augustinians have the responsibility of proclaiming the rights of the weak and of being in solidarity with the defenseless" (Intermediate General Chapter 1998: Augustinians in the church for the world of today, n. 11).