St Fulgentius was born in 462 in Tunisia.  Whilst reading Augustine, he felt called to religious life, became a hermit but soon afterward returned to monastic life.  He was popularly known as the "pocket" Augustine because of his keen interest in the saint's many writings.  The great love he had for community life was the spur to found several monasteries, not only in Africa but in Europe.

Each of these represents what is best in the community-style living of St Augustine.  Alypius came from Tagaste in Algeria, shared with Augustine the same errors, conversion and later, community life and apostolic labours.  "The brother of my heart" he was referred to by Augustine.  He was ordained Bishop of Tagaste in about 394.

It seems that the friendship of Augustine and Alypius with Possidius commenced in the early years of monastic life in the city of Hippo (also in Algeria).  It was the latter who wrote the first life story of St Augustine, with whom, he tells us, "I lived in close friendship for almost 40 years".

Alypius died about 430 and Possidius some 7 years later.

Rita, an only child, was born about 1350 at Cascia (Italy).  At an early age, she felt the call to religious life but, at the age of 14, her parents insisted that she marry a young man of restless spirit.  She lived patiently with him for about eighteen years until he was murdered.  Rita forgave the killers and prayed that God would take her two sons rather than avenge their father's death.  It happened that both died shortly afterward.

Alone now, she made many attempts to be accepted into a religious community.  Having overcome innumerable obstacles, she finally entered the Augustinian Convent in Cascia where she remained as a cloistered nun for 40 years.

She had a very deep devotion to the Lord's Passion and bore the mark of a thorn on her forehead.  She died in 1456 and her body is preserved in the convent chapel at Cascia.

Born into a distinguished family at Sabagun (Spain).  As a young priest, he shunned ecclesiastical honours and went to study at the famous University of Salamanca.

In 1463, he joined the Augustinians, became a tireless preacher, a peacemaker, an advocate of social harmony and a staunch defender of the rights of the workers.

His devotion to the Blessed Sacrament was central to his life.  He died in Salamanca in 1479.

Born about the year 1268 in Montefalco (Italy).  At the age of 6, she went to live with her sister Joan who had formed a religious community with other companions following the Rule of St Augustine.

In 1291, Joan died and Clare became abbess and remained so until her death in 1308.

She was deeply devoted to the Passion of Christ and, during her last days, she revealed that in her heart she carried the impression of the Cross.  After her death, the sisters were anxious to verify the truth of her assertions and, as it happened, when her heart was examined, they did find depicted there the symbols of the Passion of Christ.

Born in Tagaste (Algeria) about 331.  As a young woman she married Patritius, a non-Christian.  Monica (also known in the literature as Monnica) was a down-to-earth woman with a deep constancy of prayer and meditation on the Scriptures.

She succeeded in bringing both husband and son to conversion in Christ.

On her way back to Africa from Rome with Augustine and friends, she died at Ostia on the mouth of the River Tiber.  It was here, before her death, that both she and her son experienced the rapture of ecstasy beautifully described by Augustine in Confessions.  Her death occurred in October 386, at the age of 54.

Born during the middle of the 13th century in Macerata, Italy.  He entered the Augustinians at an early age and was described as a simple priest and religious.

His notable preaching brought many to God and he was much sought after as a spiritual guide.  He was remarkable for his spirit of prayer, penance and devotion to the Holy Souls.

His death occurred on 10 September 1305.

Born in England and was martyred at Canterbury in 1539.

He refused to recognise Henry VIII as Head of the Church in England.

John was canonised by Pope Paul VI on 25 October 1970.

Thomas was born in Crudad Real, Spain, in 1486.  At university, he was a brilliant student and later a professor.

When he was offered a professorship at the University of Salamanca, he refused and instead sought admission to the Augustinian monastery in that city.  In 1544, he was appointed Archbishop of Valencia and died there on 8 September 1555.