Happy St. Augustine Day!

Holy Founder, wisest preacher
Still be with us as our teacher
Guide our feet on Wisdom's quest.
Restless mind, by Wisdom captured,
Soaring spirit, love-enraptured,
Lead us where our hearts find rest.

"The brothers devoted themselves to the apostles' instruction and communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. A reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. The shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, dividing everything on the basis of each one's need. They went to the temple area together while in their homes they broke bread. With exultant and sincere hearts they took their meals in common, praising God and winning the approval of all the people." Acts 2, 42-47

After his conversion St. Augustine sought to live a monastic life, among friends, based on the account from Acts of the Apostles. The Church needed him as priest and bishop, so he was only a monk for a short time. Yet, even as a bishop he lived in community sharing goods, prayers, and meals. He wrote a rule of life for religious communities based on this charism of common life focused on God.

"...I charge you to preach the word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient -correcting, reproving, appealing -constantly teaching and never losing patience. For the time will come people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, following their own desires, will surround themselves with teachers who tickle their ears." From St. Paul's letter to Timothy

St. Augustine is a great example of someone who stayed with his task to preach and teach in convenient and inconvenient circumstances. When the Vandals were invading North Africa, Augustine could have fled, but he decided to stay with his people.

Readings are taken from today's readings according to the Augustinian Missal

Posted by Carlos J. Medina