What is "augustinian nuns"

Augustinian \Au`gus*tin"i*an\,

1. Of or pertaining to St. Augustine, bishop of Hippo in Northern Africa (

2. 354 -- d. 430), or to his doctrines.

   Augustinian canons, an order of monks once popular in England and Ireland; -- called also regular canons of St. Austin, and black canons.

   Augustinian hermits or Austin friars, an order of friars established in 1265 by Pope Alexander IV. It was introduced into the United States from Ireland in 1790.

   Augustinian nuns, an order of nuns following the rule of St. Augustine.

   Augustinian rule, a rule for religious communities based upon the 109th letter of St. Augustine, and adopted by the Augustinian orders.

Augustinian nuns are the most ancient and continuous segment of the Roman Catholic Augustinian religious order under the canons of contemporary historical method. The Augustinian nuns, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are several Roman Catholic enclosed monastic orders of women living according to a guide to religious life known as the Rule of St. Augustine. Prominent Augustinian nuns include Italian composer Vittoria Aleotti, Italian mystic St. Clare of Montefalco, German mystic Anne Catherine Emmerich and St. Rita of Cascia.