I first was introduced to St. Augustine at college in one of my theology courses. I have to admit before that I only knew of the city in Florida pronounced differently - St. Augustine - (I'm still not sure why) and I sometimes would hear my Mom likening herself to St. Monica, when she worried about my brother or me.
In that college course, I had to read part of The Confessions, St. Augustine's famous spiritual autobiography. Note that this is considered the first real autobiography in literature. It's important for that reason alone, but the book also still stands as one of the best descriptions of another human being's journey, search to find God. The saying I once used in another homily surely applies to our St. Augustine. "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."
This is probably what makes St. Augustine so attractive - even in the 21st century. He has great insight into human nature and gives all of us hope - conversion and growth are possible throughout our lives. If you haven't read anything by St. Augustine, The Confessions are a good place to start. In fact, if you're computer savvy, there will be an Augustine Confessions blog on MySpace beginning this week and running through next April.
After reading excerpts of The Confessions, I had to write a paper comparing an incident from Augustine's youth with one of my own. I chose his robbing of a pear tree with his friends. As Augustine puts it, "We took enormous quantities, not to feast on ourselves but perhaps to throw to the pigs; we did eat a few, but that was not our motive; we derived pleasure from the deed simply because it was forbidden….I would not have done it alone…I also loved the camaraderie." Let's just say my incident had to do with some friends and I in college taking a Christmas tree that wasn't ours.
But almost 17 years later I recalled that paper as St. Augustine and I became reacquainted. In him I found someone who helped me hear and discern God's call in my life. Some of you may remember that I went discerning in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and was struck by a quote I found in a 'Saints a Day Calendar.' Of course, it was from Augustine. "I asked the heavens, the sun, the moon, and the stars: 'We are not the God whom you seek,' they said. To all the things that stand around the doors of my flesh I said, 'Tell me of my God!'…With a mighty voice they cried out, 'He made us!' My question was the gaze that I turned on them; their answer was their beauty." Augustine's emphasis on community and positive Christian friendship finally led me to the Augustinians. And I've been amazed ever since at how much there is to learn about our patron saint, the depth of this man who became a bishop and Doctor of the Church.
Augustine didn't just write The Confessions. To say he was prolific would be an understatement. He produced more than 200 other books and nearly one thousand sermons, in addition to numerous letters and treatises. We have more of his works than any other person from ancient times - and it's said that to read everything in the original Latin would take 7 years! Augustine's impact and relevancy remain in modern times - with one of the best examples being the fact that he's the most frequently cited theologian in the Vatican Council II documents.
You may have noticed that in my homilies too I often include something from St. Augustine - because he puts things so well. As I've thought to myself, is there anything that he hasn't treated or he hasn't said? Besides The Confessions, an excellent book, that I'd highly recommend, is Day by Day with Saint Augustine, compiled by a fellow Augustinian, Don Burt. He provides a wide variety of snippets from Augustine, with meaningful, down-to-earth reflections.
It's good for us as individuals and as a parish - which bears his name - to get to know St. Augustine better. Personal experience says that he can be a wonderful model, mentor, and companion on our way to God, to Jesus the Christ - the Good Shepherd. On the journey, Augustine shares many vistas - from the beauty of creation to the joys of friendship. From dealing with loss, with grief to the value of hospitality and recognizing ourselves - the Body of Christ - in the Eucharist.
Augustine urges all of us to become more aware of the great gift that we carry within ourselves: the presence of God. But he also urges us to do something with this gift. Do not let it just be a nice feeling, he says. Rather, let it move us to a very practical, outgoing faith. Augustine proclaims, "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others. This is what love looks like." May we reflect that love today - and in the week ahead - as we remember and celebrate our patron. St. Augustine, pray for us!
