OSA Crest

The Crest of the Augustinian Order

 The crest of the Augustinian Order comprises a book, superimposed by a burning heart with both pierced by a stylus.
The book recalls Augustine’s huge written contribution to philosophical and theological thought. It evokes the Rule which he wrote which governs our way of living together. It also recalls the words “Tolle Lege” (Take and Read) he heard being sung in a childlike voice which were the final impulse for his conversion. He tells us that while he was in a garden with Alypius:
The burning heart recalls the centrality of love and friendship to the theology of Augustine. This is not an intellectual attachment but a love and friendship which burns with excitement and joy.
The stylus (an ancient writing implement used to inscribe on tablets of wax) pierces the heart and the book and unites them. The love that Augustine experienced in his life was expressed in his writings.
At certain times in our history the stylus was thought to be a bishop’s crozier recalling the fact that Augustine was bishop of Hippo but it seems that this was a later medieval addition.
There are many versions of the crest. What follows here is a collection of the principal ones that have been used through the years. It is interesting to note that the friars have always been concerned to try to express their spirituality, embodied in the crest to a certain degree, in different ways that might engage with different times and places.
previous arrow
next arrow

Comments are closed.