"You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

These are the words of Saint Augustine, whose feast we celebrate today. If you read yesterday's post, you would already know much about this interesting saint - that he had a wonderful mother who cared deeply for him and that he didn't start out as a saintly man.

Though he was raised a Christian, he fell away from the faith, becoming prideful and believing in other teachings. Impurity was the major thing he struggled with. A famous prayer of his was, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."

Augustine converted in his early thirties. Even when he finally believed that Christianity is the true religion, he still found difficulty in living the faith.

One day, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Take up and read!" Thinking that God wanted him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of Saint Paul, and read the first passage he glanced at. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, Saint Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. From that day on, Augustine began living only for Christ.

Augustine was baptized and became a priest and then a magnificent bishop. He wrote a book (Confessions of Saint Augustine) and many other writings concerning the faith. A friend of his described him as one who ate sparingly, worked tirelessly, despised gossip, and shunned the temptations of the flesh.

 

"Do what you can and pray for what you cannot, and so God will grant you the ability to do it."

So even though Augustine didn't begin his life as a very holy man, he still became a saint and someone of true greatness. He inspires us even now and gives hope to those who have turned away from God. May his example remind us that we should never give up on anyone and that God's forgiveness is always true and there for us.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. For it was pride that changed angels into devils. And it is humility that makes men as angels."

Prayer by Saint Augustine 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. Amen.