August 28 2026 - St. Augustine, bishop & doctor - Light for those wandering in darkness

 

For decades of his life, St. Augustine wandered in the darkness. He sought happiness in the pleasures of the flesh. He sought happiness in worldly philosophers. He sought happiness in strange sects. But they failed to satisfy and left him restless. But upon finding the Truth, the pearl of great price, the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Augustine gave his life entirely to Christ.

There are countless stories like Augustine’s up and down the centuries. Men and women who sought happiness, sought truth in a hundred thousand ways, but came to discover truth and goodness here in the Catholic Church.

In many cases, it was the witness of Ordinary Catholics that led them home. The faithful witness of Catholics at prayer, engaging in works of charity, of helping them when they needed help, helped them to open their hearts to the possibility that, herein lies goodness. That despite what the world says about God and the Church, there might be something to this Catholic stuff.

For Augustine, there appear to be two people that influenced him most. His mother, St. Monica, who prayed and wept and did penance for his conversion for decades. And the Bishop St. Ambrose, whose preaching captivated him.

St. Augustine’s mind and heart and soul longed for God and knowledge of Christ Jesus. And for him, it took a while for him to find his heart’s longing.

So we should be patient with those who seem to be wandering through life, for those outside of the Church, even those who left the Church. God has placed a longing in their hearts that can only be satisfied by God.

And yet, we should also be diligent in praying and working for their conversion. St. Augustine was converted because St. Ambrose was doing what he was supposed to be doing, and St. Monica was doing what she was supposed to be doing.

We need to be patient and diligent in praying and laboring for the conversion of souls. Including our own. It was because Ambrose and Monica had cultivated their own holiness, that God was able to work so effectively through them. Augustine was able to encounter Christ through Ambrose and Monica, because Ambrose and Monica and made a home for Christ in their own souls, and adorned that home richly—Augustine’s blindness was dispelled because of the light shining in Christ’s Holy Church.

St. Augustine is a great saint for our own day—who himself prays no doubt, for those addicted to sin, those fleeing the Church and the Truth of the Gospel, and for all of us, that we may be effective instruments for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

That the preaching of holy bishops and priests may attract those seeking for Truth to the Truth of the Gospels.

That Christian parents may be diligent in their prayer and good example for the forming their families in faith.

That our young people may be kept safe from the evils and errors of our culture. That they may seek and find Christ in the witness of the Church.

For those who have fallen into error or serious sin, those whose pride keeps them from knowing God’s mercy, and for those who have fallen away from the Church or do not know Christ, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.