7.22.25 - Suicide | The Lord's Prayer | St. Augustine |

Opening Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for giving us our existence so that we could enter into a relationship with You.

Thank you coming here to show us how to live, love, and forgive,

And then paying for our transgressions against others and against You.

And as Jesus taught us to pray… together

Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily Bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 Upcoming major holy days:   August 15:  Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

TODAY: 

·        Catholic Reflection: The Church’s position on suicide.  

·        Reading for 17^th Sun in Ordinary Time, 7/27:  The Lord’s Prayer and Perseverance – Luke 11:1-13.

·        St. Augustine and several heresies.

Quote of the Week: 

"We are Christians, and strangers on earth. Let none of us be frightened; our native land is not in this world."

–St. Augustine

What is the Church’s position on suicide?

Suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life, a form of murder making it a violation of the 5^th Commandment. This law is based on the fact that God gives both life and dignity to all humans, and so it is not ours to take.

Consequently, the Catholic Church teaches that suicide is a gravely immoral act. It is considered a grave sin for the reason just mentioned but also because it violates the love we owe to oneself, one's neighbor, and God. 

The Church also recognizes that various psychological and social factors can diminish a person's moral culpubility for such an act. Therefore, the Church expresses hope for the eternal salvation of those who have taken their own lives, acknowledging that "By ways known to Him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance." Thus, the Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.

Didn’t the Church used to take a more severe approach to suicide – that everyone who committed suicide could not be saved?  If so, how can the Church change its position on something this serious?”

This is not accurate. First, although the Church's understanding of suicide has developed alongside our understanding of psychology, this development does not mean a change in the objective moral teaching that suicide is a grave sin. Rather, it reflects a deeper understanding of the moral culpability of certain individuals who have taken their lives. Regarding all the Commandments, the Church recognizes that God alone knows a person and that His justice and mercy will be perfect.   

Secondly, the Church does not condemn anyone, so nobody was condemned before that needs saving now. Again, judgment of one’s eternal salvation belongs to God alone. The Church gives as many guidelines as it can, but it can never account for all the possible circumstances in a person’s life. Only God knows each person. Moreover, the hope for salvation for those who have taken their own lives has always been present in the Church's prayers, even in earlier times when disciplinary practices were stricter.

The Lord’s Prayer and Perseverance – Luke 11:1-13

Context:  Last week, we read about Jesus visiting Martha and Mary and discussed the importance of relationship and prayer as the foundation to our behavior (acts of goodness and service). As the heading above indicates, this chapter is about prayer. It was common for disciples of Rabbis to have a communal prayer to unite them.

Apologetic:  You will notice that the Lord’s Prayer in Luke is different from the one we are used to saying, which is from Matthew. The version in Matthew has 7 petitions – the first 3 to God the Father and the last 4 are directed to us. Today we pray Luke’s version, which has only 5 petitions – the first two to the Father and the last three directed to us. Some “secularists” will say, “See, these prove the Scriptures are unreliable, otherwise both would be the same.”

What is our response?

            Most atheist arguments work like this: a) they cherry pick certain verses out of the Bible that may be ambiguous on the surface, b) they infer an erroneous meaning, and c) they count on the average Christian being unable to defend themselves. As for the different versions of the Lord’s Prayer, here is the correct understanding:

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray over a 3 ½ year period and the disciples’ recollection of those prayers were bound to vary. Secondly, differences in prayer lengths were not uncommon in ancient Judaism, and this remains true today. For example, we use shortened versions of the Psalms for many of our responses in the Mass. Also in the Mass, we have a long version of the Eucharist Prayer (#1) and a short version (#2). We have two Creeds – the shorter Apostle’s Creed and the longer Nicene Creed. Third, the shorter version of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke is essentially the same prayer as the longer version in Matthew.

Today’s reading seems to have 3 distinct teachings, but they all speak to the Christian’s proper approach to God in prayer. 

·        Verses 1-3:  The Lord’s prayer (shorter version).

·        Verses 5-8:  Persistency in prayer.

·        Verses 9-13:  The efficacy of prayer and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For ease of study, I will separate the reading below by these same three headings.

Luke 11:1-13

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come.

                                                                                                                                                 Give us each day our daily bread         

Forgive us our sins for we forgive everyone in debt to us

and do not subject us to the final test.

(Persistency in prayer)

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

(The efficacy of prayer and the gift of the Holy Spirit)

"So I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are wicked (sinful) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

Exegesis = Interpretation/Explanation

The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name             Father is Creator and yet family/intimate; hallowed = perfect in every way.

Your kingdom come.                                 The unification of God’s kingdom and earth is imminent. Be ready.

Give us each day our daily bread          “Daily” (epiousion) translates as eternal. Jesus came and is our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins                                     This is the point of Jesus coming, but we must continually seek it and…

For we forgive everyone in debt to us  A condition of our own forgiveness is to learn to forgive likewise.

and do not subject us to the final test. Trial (God strengthening us) and temptation (not from God) – help us!

Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? All prayer begins by raising our minds to God, so here we begin by putting God’s holy name first. Then, God wastes no time coming to us in the bread (Jesus) because He knows we will otherwise fail; the “bread of life” is both our spiritual food (Communion) and the Word of God to guide us; then we must be agents of forgiveness (our own and others); and keep God with us to withstand the dark powers that seek to undermine us.

Persistency in prayer

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me… if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

Jesus is telling us to pray persistently, passionately, and relentlessly. Why? 1) there may be reasons not immediately obvious, 2) we may need strengthening in our faith, 3) we may be asking for the wrong thing. But He will work with us, so keep praying!

The efficacy of prayer and the gift of the Holy Spirit

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you… What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?... If you then, who are wicked (sinful) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

To understand this last part, it is important to remember that Jesus is talking to his disciples who are being sent out to preach for the first time. They are scared. Jesus is telling them they are not alone, and the Holy Spirit is being made available to them if they only keep asking! The same is true for us when we are on mission, whatever that may be.

Fathers, Heresies, and Councils of the Early Church

Early Fathers of the Church (called “Patristics”)

The Fathers of the Church can be divided into three categories:

I. Apostolic Fathers – connected to the Apostles.

·         Apostolic Documents: The Didache (70-85), Epistle of Barnabas (80-110AD), The Shepherd of Hermas (90-120)

·         St. Clement of Rome: 3^rd Pope (88-97AD), disciple of Peter, ordained by Peter.

·         St. Ignatius of Antioch: (50-117 AD) – appointed by Peter as bishop of Antioch; later became a disciple of John.  

·         St. Polycarp of Smyrna: (69-155) – disciple of John.  

II. Ante-Nicene Fathers – disciples of the disciples of the Apostles, prior to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.    

·         St. Justin Martyr (100-165) 

·         St. Irenaeus of Lyons: (140-202 AD) – a disciple of Polycarp

·         St. Clement of Alexandria (150-216 AD)

·         Tertullian (160-230 AD)

·         Origin (185-254 AD)

·         St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-258 AD)

·         Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, historian (260-334)

III. Post-Nicene Fathers:   

·         Aphraates, Sage of Persia (280-345 AD)

·         St. Ephraim (306-373 AD)

·         St. Athanasius (295-373AD)

·         St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386AD)

·         St. Hilary of Poitiers (310-368 AD)

·         St. Basil the Great (330-379 AD)

·         St. Gregory of Nazianz (330-390 AD)

·         St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-394 AD)

·         St. Epiphanius of Salamis (315-413 AD)

·         Theodore of Mopsuestia (428 AD)

·         St. Ambrose (333-397 AD)

·         St. John Chrysostom (349-407 AD)

·         St. Jerome (347-420 AD)

·         St. Augustine (354-430 AD) – 4 pages down!

·         St. Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

·         St. Leo the Great (400-461 AD)

·         St. Boethius (480-524 AD)

·         St. Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)

Church Councils

The purpose of the Church Councils is to settle questions of faith and practice, promote unity, and address other issues affecting the Church, including the latest new heresies. These councils facilitated deliberation among bishops and leaders as they sought to ensure the Church’s teachings remained aligned with its mission, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The goal was to preserve the integrity and constancy of our apostolic faith.

Important Church Councils throughout history

50 AD             Council of Jerusalem

325 AD          First Council of Nicaea

381 AD          First Council of Constantinople

393 AD          Council of Hippo

397 AD          Council of Carthage

431 AD          Council of Ephesus

451 AD          Council of Chalcedon

553 AD          Second Council of Constantinople

681 AD          Third Council of Constantinople

731 AD          Second Council of Nicaea

869 AD          Fourth Council of Constantinople

1123 AD       First Council of the Lateran

1130 AD        Second Council of the Lateran

1179 AD       Third Council of the Lateran

1215 AD        Fourth Council of the Lateran

1245 AD        First Council of Lyon

1274  AD      Second Council of Lyon

1311 AD        Council of Vienne

1415 AD       Council of Constance

1431 AD        Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence

1512 AD        Fifth Council of the Lateran

1545 AD       Council of Trent

1869 AD        First Vatican Council

1962 AD       Second Vatican Council

When was the Bible established?

            It was started at the Council of Hippo (393) and finalized at the Council of Carthage (397). Before this, the writings were like the Jewish Scriptures – individual books/writings on Genesis, Isaiah, etc., but the Jews never gathered them into one, unified collection until the 3^rd century, AD.  Nevertheless, these books from the Old Testament had been gathered and copied into Greek around 250BC in Alexandria, Egypt, called the Septuagint. This is the OT Bible that Catholics used.  

The books for the New Testament were similarly separate documents in the beginning. But with Christianity growing fast and unapproved writings starting to appear, the Church decided to formalize which books were true and inspired and which were not. The Church finalized 73 books – 46 Old Testament + 27 New Testament – at the Council of Carthage in 397, which was confirmed again at the Council of Trent in 1545 after the Protestant Reformation decided to remove 7 books from the Old Testament. The Protestants have 66 books – 39 Old Testament + 27 New Testament.    

What is a heresy?

A heresy is when a clergy official teaches contrary to Church dogma. Dogma are those teachings which the Church has infallibly taught to be divinely revealed (The Trinity, the Incarnation, Immaculate Conception, etc.).

 Heresies occurred often in first few centuries because communications across the Roman Empire was difficult given the persecution of the Church. This meant months and sometimes years for news to get from the Church in Egypt to the Church in Rome. Meanwhile, people have a natural tendency to keep the best of what they learned about Christianity and combine it with their pagan beliefs that they didn’t want to let go of. This is why Paul wrote so many letters after he started churches all over Asia Minor and Greece – to correct errors like these.    

Nine of the most well-known heresies

2^nd - 3^rd Centuries

1.     Gnosticism:  This heresy posited a dualistic worldview, rejecting the material world as evil and promoting a secret knowledge (gnosis) for salvation. Gnostics often denied the true humanity of Christ, claiming that He only appeared to be human, which contradicted the Church’s teaching on the Incarnation.

2.     Docetism:  A form of Gnosticism (2^nd century), Docetism asserted that Christ’s physical body was an illusion and that He did not truly suffer or die. This undermined the reality of the Incarnation and the salvific nature of Christ’s suffering.

3^rd - 5^th Centuries

3.     Arianism:  Arianism denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ, asserting that He was a created being and not of the same substance as the Father. This heresy led to significant (and sometimes violent) disputes and was condemned at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Arianism is thought to have laid the groundwork for Mohammed and Islam in the 5^th century, which took many similar positions – Jesus was just a very holy prophet, Mary was his virgin mother, and resorting to violence to maintain these beliefs.

4.        Apollinarianism:  This heresy denied the completeness of Christ’s humanity by asserting that He had a human body but not a human mind or will. It was condemned at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD for failing to recognize the full human experience of Christ.

5^th - 6^th Centuries

5.     Nestorianism:  Nestorius proposed a distinction between the divine and human natures of Christ to the extent that he suggested there were two separate persons in Christ. This view was condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, which affirmed the unity of Christ’s person.

6.     Monophysitism:  This heresy claimed that Christ had only one nature, which was a mixture of divine and human. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD rejected this view, affirming that Christ is “perfect in Divinity and perfect in humanity” in two natures.

7.     Pelagianism:  Pelagius (5^th century) taught that human beings could achieve salvation through their own efforts without divine grace. This view was condemned for undermining the necessity of grace in the process of salvation.

7^th Century

8.     Monothelitism:  This heresy proposed that Christ had two natures but only one will, which was seen as a compromise that undermined the full humanity of Christ. It was condemned at the Third Council of Constantinople in 681 AD.

9.     Iconoclasm:  This movement (7^th century) rejected the veneration of icons and images in worship, arguing that it was Idolatrous. The Church defended the use of icons, affirming their role in teaching and devotion.

Heresies slowed down after this. After Islam in the 7^th century (which is not technically a heresy), there was:

-         Adoptionism in the 8^th century (Jesus was adopted by God as his son)

-         The Albigensians in the 12^th century (Gnostic – physical world was evil so having kids was evil because it imprisoned another soul)

-         The Free Spirits in the 14^th century (Eastern/pantheism – people reach a state of spiritual perfection and their souls would merge with God and be one/same)

-         Jansenism in the 17^th century (emphasized human depravity, asceticism, and predestination). 

Why is Islam not a heresy?

            Muhammed wasn’t in the Church. Heresy is someone in the Church preaching something we don’t believe.  

Protestantism came from within the Catholic clergy in the 16^th century. Does the Church consider it heretical?

            No, it was their severing relations with the Church by rejecting Papal Authority; therefore, the Church considers the Protestant Reformation a major schism in the history of the Christianity. The Church states that the Reformation destroyed the unity of the faith in Europe, cutting off millions from the Catholic Church.  There were also doctrinal disagreements that emerged over time; these continue to emerge, resulting in thousands of Protestant denominations today.

Although the Protestant Reformation is historically recognized as a schism, the Catholic Church views those currently within Protestant communities as brothers and sisters in Christ, especially since most were born into their faith and were not the cause of the schism.  

Finally, the Catholic Church actively seeks reunification with Protestant Christians, viewing it as a critical goal of the ecumenical movement. This endeavor is rooted in the Church's belief that Christ desires "full visible communion of all Christians."

The primary doctrinal differences remaining are:  Sola Scriptura – private judgment, no formal church; Sola Fide – faith only for salvation (sans our cooperation in works); and no actual presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  

How should we view other religions (and humanity as a whole) that are outside the Church?

We know in Genesis that God breathed his spirit into humans (Gen 2:7). This added a spiritual nature to our physical nature; this is what made us in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27).  Since God is perfect truth, perfect love, perfect knowledge, perfect justice, perfect mercy, and perfection itself, we seek all these things for ourselves, for that is imprinted in us. We can either seek these things with God (who is their source) or on our own (pride).

We passionately desire all of God’s characteristics. They are, in a sense, God’s calling cards, as we can never fully have them without Him. Is it any surprise that so many ancient cultures share similar stories? Think of God as the mountain of Truth, etc., and every human being and every (good) religion is climbing it – including atheists – whether they are seeking meaning, purpose, or truth – or their denial.

However, we humans can only get so far up the mountain since the top of the mountain is a spiritual, infinite place where God is. We cannot know what’s there because it’s beyond space and time. Since we can’t complete our journey for the Truth and Perfection, religions fill in the gaps as best they can (i.e., karma, reincarnation, Greek philosophy, etc.).  

The only way we can know the rest of the way is if God comes down and reveals Himself. Alas, that is exactly what happens in the Bible, starting with the first man and woman, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and finally coming Himself as Jesus Christ. Jesus was God’s revelation to humans, and the Good News is that He loves us and wants us in Heaven.  

All religions, all humans, are climbing the Mountain of God. Even atheists, although the mountain is the Self.

St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430 AD)

Overview

One of the most influential theologians in the history of the Western Church, St. Augustine's contributions span numerous areas. He wrote extensively on the doctrines of grace, original sin, the Sacraments, the Trinity, the nature of the Church (combating Donatism), and was instrumental in the condemnation of Pelagianism. His works “Confessions” and “City of God” are enduring spiritual and theological classics.

What is Pelagianism?

Pelagianism was a heresy that denied original sin and the necessity of grace for salvation.  In other words, they denied humans are fallen or that Jesus needed to come and save anyone. Humans have the power to achieve salvation on their own by their good works.    

Life of Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) was a towering figure in Christian thought who lived a life marked by intellectual brilliance, spiritual struggle, and profound conversion. All this is vividly recounted in his “Confessions,” which offers an unparalleled glimpse into the human soul's search for truth and God. The book concludes soon after his conversion at the age of 32 years. After his conversion, Augustine became a priest and eventually Bishop of Hippo (map).  

The CCC says, “Augustine is a philosophical genius of the first order, dominating like a pyramid, antiquity and the succeeding ages. Compared to other philosophers of past centuries and to modern times, he is the qual of them all; among theologians, he is undeniably the first, and such has been his influence that none of the Fathers, Scholastics, or Reformers has surpassed it.” 

Augustine early life was shaped by contrasting influences. His father, Patricius, was a pagan, while his mother, Monica, was a fervent Christian whose unwavering faith and prayers profoundly impacted her son. Augustine received a Christian upbringing, being signed with the cross and enrolled as a catechumen, though he deferred baptism. Thanks to Monica, Patricius converted on his death bed.

Augustine, possessing a keen intellect, pursued an excellent education, mastering Latin rhetoric in Carthage, the capital of Roman Africa. While in Carthage, a pivotal moment occurred when he read Cicero's “Hortensius.” This lost work ignited in him an intense love for wisdom, turning him away from vain hopes and towards an ardent desire for immortality through wisdom.

Despite his intellectual pursuits, Augustine's youth was characterized by a restless spirit and a drift from ecclesial faith and practice. He was drawn to Manichaeism, which dominated his life and thinking for a decade.

What is Manichaeism?

Manichaeism is a dualistic religion. Dualistic religions profess a belief in two fundamental and opposing forces, one good and one evil, engaged in a cosmic struggle. Augustine found this explanation of evil easier to understand than Christianity. He could not understand how an all good God could have created evil.

What is the Christian view of evil?

Evil is not a distinct thing or force. It is the absence of good. It is what happens in the absence of love. God did not create evil. He created free will, and those who choose against God (love/good) cause evil to occur through selfishness, envy, greed, violence, etc.

Augustine apparently was a ladies’ man and he loved his women. Much of his book, Confessions, is his struggle to conquer his lustful cravings. He eventually entered into a long-term relationship and had a son, Adeodatus.

His intellectual and spiritual quest eventually led him to Milan, where he encountered Bishop Ambrose. Augustine was initially drawn to Ambrose's eloquent preaching and rhetorical skill, but he soon found himself riveted by the content of Ambrose's sermons. Ambrose's typological interpretation of the Old Testament – revealing its journey towards Jesus Christ – and his integration of Neo-Platonic philosophy with Christian faith, helped Augustine overcome some of his intellectual difficulties with the Scriptures. This encounter was crucial in resolving his doubts and drawing him closer to the Catholic Church.

What is Neo-Platonism?

Plato lived in the 3^rd century BC but “Neo-Platonism” emerged in the 3^rd century AD. It is a philosophical and religious system that was influenced by the teachings of Plato but was developed further by thinkers like Plotinus and Augustine. It posits a single, ultimate source of reality, often called "The One" or "The Good," from which all other things emanate. This system emphasizes the soul's journey towards reunion with this ultimate source through spiritual ascent.  Greek philosophy was so amazing that the early fathers of the Church called it the “primer to the Gospels.” The Greeks had “reasoned” their way up the Mountain of God but could not finish the journey. Augustine helped complete this journey for Plato just as Thomas Aquinas did the same for Aristotle a thousand years later. It combines reason and faith by saying that all reason came from God.

Seek not to understand that you may believe but believe that you may understand. – St. Augustine

In other words, reason can only take us so far. Faith can take us further, and then reason will follow right behind.

Augustine's conversion was not a single event but a long and tormented inner journey. He recounts in his Confessions a moment in a garden where he heard a child's voice chanting "Tolle lege, tolle lege" ("Pick up and read, pick up and read"). Thinking this might be a divine command, he opened a copy of St. Paul's Epistles nearby and his eyes fell upon Romans 13:13-14, which exhorted him to abandon the works of the flesh and be clothed with Christ! This experience overwhelmed him as wept deeply. Suddenly, his doubts about his own direction and strength were lifted, and he felt free for the first time to give himself entirely to Christ.

On April 24, 387, at the age of 32, Augustine was baptized by Bishop Ambrose in the Cathedral of Milan during the Easter Vigil. This marked a profound turning point in his life. After his baptism, Augustine decided to return to Africa with his friends, intending to live a monastic life dedicated to God. While awaiting their departure, his beloved mother, Monica, fell ill and died, a loss that deeply grieved him. It was as though Monica had waited for him!

Upon returning to his homeland, Augustine settled in Hippo, where he intended to found a monastery. However, his path took an unexpected turn. In 391, despite his reluctance, he was ordained a priest in Hippo. He embraced monastic life with a few companions, dedicating his time to prayer, study, and preaching, driven by a desire to serve the truth. Though he initially did not feel a vocation to pastoral life, he came to realize that God was calling him to be a shepherd to His people.

Four years later, in 395, Augustine was ordained Bishop of Hippo. For over 35 years, he served as an exemplary bishop, tirelessly committed to his pastoral duties. He preached multiple times a week, supported the poor and orphans, oversaw the formation of clergy, and organized monasteries for both men and women. His influence extended far beyond his diocese, shaping the Catholic Church in Roman Africa and the broader Christianity of his time . He actively combated tenacious heresies such as Manichaeism, Donatism, and Pelagianism, which threatened Christian faith.

What is Donatism?

            Donatists believed the clergy needed to be sinless and pure at all times. Any sacraments performed by sinful clergy should be null and void. Any Christians who had repudiated their faith under pressure or persecution could not be readmitted to the faith.

Augustine's intellectual output was prodigious. His biographer, Possidius, noted that it seemed impossible for one man to have written so much. His works, including Confessions, City of God, and On the Trinity, have profoundly influenced Western thought and Christian theology ever since. He is considered a philosophical and theological genius, whose teaching marks a distinct epoch in the history of Christian thought. Said to have written over a thousand works, he is survived by 113 books, 200+ letters, and 500+ sermons.  

Saint Augustine entrusted himself to God until the very end of his life. He died in 430 AD at the age of 75, while Hippo was under siege by Vandal invaders. His remains were later acquired by the King of the Lombards and brought to Pavia, where they rest today.

A few more quotes of Augustine:

·        “Lord, give me chastity, but not yet.”

·        “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in thee.” 

·        “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”

·        “If we receive Communion worthily, we become what we receive.”

·        “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever Ancient, ever new."

·        “The measure of love is to love without measuring."

·        “We are Christians, and strangers on earth. Let none of us be frightened; our native land is not in this world." 

Closing Prayer: Prayer to the HS

Prayer by St. Augustine: Late Have I Loved Thee.

Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!

Lo, you were within, but I outside.

You were with me, but I was not with you.

You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;

you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;

you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you;

I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst;

you touched me, and I burned for your peace.

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be

World without end. Amen