Friday 28th of August
St Augustine
“We preach a crucified Christ, the power and wisdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Pope Leo is a member of the Augustinian order, which is based on the spiritual rules of life written by St Augustine in the 5th century. St Augustine was born in 354 in the Roman Empire, and his mother, St Monica, tried to pass on her Christian values to him. However, when he was young, he enjoyed earthly pleasures and was famous as an orator who did not believe in the Church’s teachings.
After many years, St Augustine converted to the Church and became a bishop and great writer and defender of our faith. He recognised that we can’t only rely on our own human wisdom and intellect. He said, “No one may safely cross the sea of this world, unless he be carried by the Cross of Christ … abandon not the Cross, and it shall carry you safely.”
Jesus, please give us the faith of St Augustine and St Paul that we have been called to follow you by carrying our crosses, which are the power and the wisdom of God.