Aug 28 - St. Augustine

+ St. Augustine of Hippo, was born in Tagaste (modern Algeria, Northern Africa) in 354, of a pagan father named Patricius, who converted on his deathbed, thanks to the prayers of his literally sainted wife, Monica, who was the mother of three sons: one of which was Augustine.

While raised a Christian, Augustine lost his faith in youth and led a wild life, living with a Carthaginian woman from age 15 through 30. With her he fathered a son whom he named Adeotadus, which means the gift of God. Augustine taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan, Italy.

After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, Augustine  became a Manichaean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code (since it seemed that the evil outweighed the good, one might as well give in to it – this of course, is not only illogical but theologically inaccurate, and heretical). A summation of his thinking of this time comes from his Confessions: “God, give me chastity and continence – but not just yet.”

Augustine finally broke with the Mainchaens and was converted by the prayer of his mother and the help of Saint Ambrose of Milan, who baptized him. On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. He then journeyed in his vocation from monk to priest, preacher, and then Bishop of Hippo in 396. He founded religious communities, fought Manichaeism, Donatism, Pelagianism and other heresies. He oversaw his see during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals.

For all of his many writings, especially in the area of moral theology and theology in general he was soon named Doctor of the Church after his death in 430. His later thinking can also be summed up in a line from his writings: Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you!

The gospel passage today speaks of humility. Once Augustine experienced the heights of false exaltation in his earlier years of carousing and rabble rousing, he understood clearly the difference between gaining the whole world of insight and understanding and true, unadulterated humility; and once he learned the great lesson, he was eloquent enough to make the lesson palatable to everyone, everywhere, and for all times – by writing it down.

The first reading talks about experiencing the exhilaration and confidence of existing in the love of God, which is a voluntary cooperative venture on both our parts: God, constantly offering his life-sustaining love; us, needing to constantly offer our cooperation with graces given for our good, for our salvation, for the satisfaction of our desire!

St. Augustine, pray for us today; help us to know that it is normal for our hearts to experience a certain kind of persistent restlessness, otherwise we would not want to join you in heaven!

With all our hearts, we seek you, Lord; let us find you in the perfect way, and in the perfect time you have in mind for us!