Saint Augustine, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, A.D. 430
by VP
Posted on Thursday August 28, 2025 at 01:00AM in Saints
Philippe de Champaigne: Saint Augustine
" ST. AUGUSTIN was born in Africa. In his youth, by conversing with the Manicheans at Carthage, he was drawn in to be an abettor of their
heresy; and then, adding vice to error, he lived for some years engaged
in a very scandalous. life. These great disorders were a heavy
affliction to his pious mother St. Monica, who never ceased importuning
heaven in behalf of her son, till by her prayers, and the help of St. Ambrose, then bishop of Milan, she saw him reclaimed from all his evil ways, and become a zealous promoter both of virtue and truth. At the age of thirty-three, he was baptized by St. Ambrose, and then returning to Africa, after sufficient experience of his great learning and piety, he was ordained priest by Valerius, bishop of Hippo. And now his great business was to make war against the prevailing errors of the Manicheans; which he did, both by words and writing with wonderful success, as likewise against the Pelagians
and Donatists. This encouraged Valerius to take him for his coadjutor;
and after his death he succeeded him in his episcopal charge. Being now
eminent in dignity, he became an example of all Christian virtues, but particularly of humility and charity to the poor, not sparing the sacred vessels for the relief of their necessities, nor any labour, by which he could possibly contribute to the good of his flock. Having thus discharged for many years the duties of a faithful pastor, and illustrated the Church by his learned writings, seized at length with his last sickness, he gave up his soul into the hands of God, in the year 430.
Pray for all those unhappy Christians who are engaged in error or vice: their misery demands your charity. Be very cautious in your choice of company, both for yourself, and those under your care. Remember that this is the general ruin of youth; be fearful of yourself in a way where so many perish." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
A Prayer to St. Augustine
O
Glorious St. Augustine, the light and oracle of the faithful! I most
fervently join the whole Church of Christ in thanking the Almighty for
having chosen thee to become a peculiar object of His love, and an
everlasting monument of His tender mercies. Illustrious penitent! Thy
admirable conversion proves to the whole world, that no crimes are too
great for the God of all mercies to pardon – no heart too corrupt for
His love to purify- and no obstacle too strong for His grace to
overcome. Penetrated with veneration for thy virtues, I choose thee for
my Father, my Protector, and my advocate. I most humbly beseech thee to
have compassion on my youth, and to protect me in those dangers which
thou well knowest are attendant on my inexperienced age. O blessed
victim of charity, obtain that I may seriously consecrate my heart to my
Creator, and faithfully observe that great commandment of charity, so
deeply engraved on thy heart. Thou wert the son of thy mother’s precious
tears, the conquest of her prayers, and afterwards the faithful
imitator of her virtues; obtain for me the most profound respect and
tender affection for my parents, gratitude for their care, and the grace
to profit of the advantages which their solicitude for my eternal
welfare has provided for me. I recommend to thee, in a particular
manner, O great Saint, all those unhappy souls, who are in the dreadful
state of mortal sin, and conjure thee, by the unceasing tears thou didst
shed over thy own wanderings, to procure them the grace of conversion,
and to obtain for me such horror of sin, that I may avoid it as the only
real evil, and thereby merit to behold for all eternity that uncreated
Beauty, who was too long hidden from thy view, and eternally love that
infinite Goodness, whom thou didst bitterly regret have loved too late.
Amen.
Source: The Ursuline manual; or, A collection of prayers, spiritual exercises 1830 Mass
