Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, Patron Saint of the Brewers, Printers and Theologians | August 28

Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of  St. Augustine of Hippo, Patron Saint of the Brewers, Printers and Theologians | August 28   Much is to be said about St. Augustine of Hippo, bishop, theologian, writer, Doctor of the Church, but we limit ourselves to the most essential due to our limited time and space. His exemplary virtues are courage, fortitude, sincerity, obedience, humility and firmness. St. Augustine, considered as the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul, the Apostle, was born in Tagaste, Algeria on November 13, 354 to a pagan father and a Christian mother. He had two siblings but he was the only one interested to pursue higher studies. As a teenager, he was a bit naughty. It is related that he stole the fruit from a neighbour’s tree, not because he liked it, but because it was prohibited. His father was baptized on his death bed and his mother wanted Augustine to be also baptized but he refused and due to many reasons. His biggest problem was sexual sin and his mother prayed much for his conversion. Monica, his mother followed him in Italy where she died after his conversion. Augustine studied rhetoric in Carthage. He went to Rome and Milan to teach but he was not successful. In Milan, he met St. Ambrose whose teachings and sermons impressed him and he became his follower, was converted and was baptized together with his son born of a lover with whom he parted ways. He and his son returned to Tagaste where his son died. He soon sold his property, gave the money to the poor, and offered his house to be used as a monastery for his friends and followers. Against his will, he was forced to serve as a junior clergyman in Hippo. Shortly after, he was made a presbyter, (almost a priest) but with less authority, and in 395, he was made the Bishop of Hippo. In his zeal to defend Christianity, he was involved in many controversies with some heretical groups. But his own brand of religion prevailed over the whole of Africa. And, by the power of his words, his enemies respected him. Augustine spent his last days praying and making penance. He had the MISERERE hung on the wall of his room so as to pray it often during the day. He died on August 28, 430. His remains were brought to Sardinia, then to Pavia, Italy. Shortly after his death, vandals came to invade Roman Africa. They burned the city but spared the Cathedral and the library containing Augustine's books and writings. The most famous among his works are: CONFESSION, an autobiography, and THE CITY OF GOD, a treatise on the comparison of the earthly cities and of Heaven. God's kingdom is the city which is stable, eternal, source of consolation and triumph. Let us pray the prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit: "Breathe on 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." Do I have time to think of God and pray despite my busy schedule?