"What then is my God...?"

Aug 31
2 min read

"...most merciful and most just,utterly hidden and utterly present,

most beautiful and most strong...,

suffering no change and changing all things:

never new, never old, making all things new, ...

ever in action, ever at rest,

gathering all things to Thee and needing none; ...

ever seeking though lacking nothing.

Thou lovest without subjection to passion,

Thou art jealous but not with fear...

angry yet unperturbed by anger."

-St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, Book 1, Chapter 4-

Isn't it amazing, as members of an Augustinian parish community, how much St. Augustine and the Augustinian Order have become part of our mainstream news and social media now with the election of Pope Leo XIV?! Weekly, if not daily, we can hear our Holy Father preach with messages so beautifully and deeply infused by Augustine--messages of love, compassion, grace, mercy, hope, peace, understanding, the need for each other, and the desire for us to live according to God's will for us, as citizens of the City of God.

On today's feast day of St. Augustine, I want to share with you a wonderful video on his life, his writings, and impact on the Church and Western Civilization. This is one of the very best ways to spend an hour today--if you're well acquainted with the life and work of St. Augustine, then it's a nice way to revisit his story. If you're not too familiar with his story, have a little feast day treat and instead of 'taking up and reading', click and watch!

https://youtu.be/4mU4dwUVNOs?si=MZUAjB-NJBdyRCGg

And/or join us this evening at 6 p.m. for Mass in celebration of the Feast of St. Augustine. The Mass is in Czech and immediately following, there will be a Procession to Charles Bridge where we will stop at the statue of St. Augustine to pray.

And while on the topic of prayer this evening, let me leave you with a few words to soothe your heart by St. Augustine:

"If God seems slow in responding, it is because He is preparing a better gift. He will not deny us. God withholds what you are not yet ready for. He wants you to have a lively desire for His greatest gifts. All of which is to say, pray always and do not lose heart."