"Thus, let the abiding virtue of charity prevail in all things that minister to the fleeting necessities of life."
- Rule of St Augustine (5.2)
St. Augustine clearly recognized the special needs of those who were ill, impaired or suffering the diminishments that come with age. In 2003, a renovation of St Thomas of Villanova Monastery was undertaken with a view to provide a living space where friars will be able to retire from active daily ministry and continue living among their brothers. In this newly transformed facility, friars who have devoted their lives to service in Augustinians ministries and missions are able to participate fully in the community life that is a hallmark of the Augustinian brotherhood.
The facility provides the accessibility and amenities required to serve the friars as they age and their needs change. The monastery includes an on-site rehabilitation room, a physician's exam room, and a nursing station - in essence a residential facility for infirm friars. Here the friars receive the medical care they need on a 24/7 basis, while they can continue to share in and benefit from the social and communal aspects of monastery life among their brothers. The spiritual aspect of community life is enhanced by the community chapel, which faces the campus of Villanova University, and where the public may join in worship.
"Here I am before you with my firmness and my infirmity.
Preserve the first and heal the second."
- St. Augustine, Prayer to Seek God Continually