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.
