Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine. He is one of the most influential persons in the history of Christendom. His influence on theology and Church life is great.

Augustine was not always a great saint - far from it. His loose living saddened his mother, St. Monica, and she prayed for a long time for St. Augustine's conversion. Augustine was about 33 years old when he came to faith in Christ and asked to be baptized, along with his 11 year old son whom he had fathered out of wedlock and whom he named Adeodatus which means gift of God.

 

 PRAYERS OF ST. AUGUSTINE

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW

From The Confessions

Too late, have I loved you,

O Beauty ever ancient, ever new,

too late have I loved you!

You were with me, and I was not with you;

I was away, running after beautiful things which you created;

things which could have no existence except for you,

and yet they kept me from you.

Then you called, you cried out, and you pierced my deafness.

You enlightened, you shone forth,

and now y blindness has vanished.

I have tasted you; now I hunger and thirst for you.

You breathed your fragrance upon me;

I drew in breath and now I long for you.

You have touched me,

and I am on fire with the desire of your embrace.

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Pray for the Canonization of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

"What can we not do under the auspices of our august Mother and Patroness? What eminence of virtue may we not attain!"

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade