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Feast day: August 28
Death: 430 AD
St. Augustine of Hippo, doctor of the church, is the patron of theologians, printers, and also… brewers! Brewers as a nod to his conversion story! Augustine came to faith in Christ out of a life of loose living, which included all the attachments connected to worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.
This famous son of St. Monica was born in northern Africa. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian by his mother, his choices led him wandering far from the Christian faith and left his searching soul unquenched though he tried to fill himself with things and habits that did not satisfy. Through the prayers of his mother and the effective preaching of a priest (named Ambrose) whose words he was drawn to, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity, life experience in the way of Christ Jesus, was the truth he had been searching for. Yet even then he did not become a Christian because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted by reading the life of St. Antony, the desert father, and he felt terribly ashamed of himself. "What are we doing?" he cried to his friend Alipius. "Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!"
Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Take up and read!" Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Christ. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.
He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of a religious order, proclaimed doctor of the Church, and indeed thought of as one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: "Here we do not speak evil of anyone." St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor. He preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. His feast day is August 28th.
Author and Publisher - Catholic Online
Breathe in 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.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.
https://aleteia.org/2019/06/03/to-get-the-holy-spirits-power-pray-this-with-st-augustine/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRsjaBTphVM&autoplay=1&list=PL58g24NgWPIzvBk2IQV ES_xC4WTm6-CDI
Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nz7C0Kr9OA