Pope Leo XIV’s dissertation is set to make waves. This remarkable work, titled “The Office and Authority of the Local Prior in the Order of St. Augustine,” will be published by The Catholic University of America Press. It will be available in print and as a Kindle edition this October.
Written in 1987 by then-Father Robert Prevost, the dissertation examines the role of the Augustinian prior. This research was done shortly after his ordination as a priest in 1982 and during his mission work in Chulucanas, Peru. At that time, he also directed vocations and missions for his province in Illinois.
The timing of this dissertation is significant. It came just a few years after Pope John Paul II updated the Church’s code of canon law in 1983. Canon lawyers will find value in Prevost’s analysis of Augustinian rules in light of these new laws.
The upcoming publication will feature a foreword by Father Thomas Joseph White, the current rector of the Angelicum. His insights will help contextualize Prevost’s thoughts for today’s readers.
Prevost’s dissertation focuses on several key themes. He talks about the Church’s common good, the importance of the Eucharist, and the balance of authority and community input. He believed that authority in religious life should help the community aim for the highest ideals of charity. “Authority is not for its own sake,” he wrote. “It exists to serve the community.”
His approach emphasized the need for leaders to listen to their communities. He warned that appointing a prior without fostering a good relationship would be ineffective. In this, he highlighted the importance of consultation, suggesting that the entire community should be involved in selecting their leaders.
Prevost’s vision is rooted in the early Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles. He viewed the prior as not just a leader but as someone responsible for teaching, governing, and nurturing those entrusted to his care.
A poignant conclusion from his dissertation was that both visible community life and spiritual elements are essential in religious life. The law, he argued, plays a vital role in fostering this balance, helping communities live out their spiritual goals.
In modern contexts, these insights resonate strongly. Many church leaders today are grappling with authority and community dynamics. A 2022 survey indicated that 70% of churchgoers believe that clergy should prioritize collaboration and openness in leadership roles. Prevost’s findings encourage a path towards creating more inclusive and communicative church environments, continuing the important dialogue on leadership and community today.
For those eager to explore this deep dive into ecclesiastical leadership, it will be available in full this fall.
Learn more about the publication by The Catholic University of America Press.
