The General Council of the Order of Saint Augustine, also known as the Council of the Order, plays a vital role in assisting the Prior General in the governance of the entire Augustinian family. This governing body is composed of the Prior General, who presides over it, the Vicar General, and five Assistants General. The Assistants General are elected by the Ordinary General Chapter and must be at least thirty years old, solemnly professed for at least seven years, and recognized for their learning, prudence, integrity, and zeal.

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The Assistants General serve as close collaborators of the Prior General, advising him on matters of governance, helping to implement the program established by the General Chapter, visiting the Order’s circumscriptions (provinces, vicariates, etc.) on his behalf, and occasionally presiding at provincial and vicariate chapters. They also dedicate special attention to federations, unions, and conferences within the Augustinian family and, when necessary, one of them may be appointed to act as chapter president before the election of a new Prior General.

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The General Council itself functions as a deliberative and decision-making body, ensuring that major decisions within the Order are made collegially. The Prior General requires its consent for many serious actions, such as issuing decrees for the whole Order, interpreting the Constitutions authoritatively, intervening in the governance of a province or vicariate when necessary, and modifying or nullifying the acts of provincial or vicariate chapters for legitimate reasons. The Council also decides on the establishment, suppression, or modification of general and interprovincial houses, novitiates, and federations; approves statutes for provinces and other circumscriptions; and oversees admissions to the novitiate and profession.

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In addition, the General Council is responsible for key personnel decisions, including approving changes of affiliation for solemnly professed friars, appointing officials of the general curia, and filling vacant offices outside of a General Chapter. It prepares the official report on the state of the Order before each Ordinary General Chapter, approves the participation of observers and experts in these chapters, and gives consent for extraordinary expenses of the Order exceeding a set amount.

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In summary, the General Council and the Assistants General are at the heart of the Order’s central governance, ensuring that decisions affecting its worldwide mission are made with prudence, collaboration, and fidelity to the Augustinian charism.