On August 28, the Church celebrates the feast of St Augustine, one of the great Doctors of the Church. On this special day, we hear from Villanova College Chaplain, Fr Saldie Resolado, OSA, who reflects on Augustine’s restless heart at the beginning of his Christian journey—a heart that longed for truth and found its rest only in God. His story is a powerful reminder of the transforming grace of conversion, as he turned from his old ways to embrace a new life centred wholly on Christ. As we honour St Augustine, let us join together in praying his Pilgrim’s Prayer, asking the Lord to guide our own hearts ever closer to Him.
Transcript
In one of Saint Augustine’s earliest works written soon after his baptism is called the Soliloquies. It was written around 386 AD, shortly after his conversion into Christian faith. The Soliloquies show Augustine’s restless heart at the beginning of his Christian journey. Intense, personal, philosophical, and deeply prayerful conversation marking the transition from his old life to the new one centred on God. We all know that he had lived more than thirty years wandering around the intellectual worlds of Neo-Platonism and scepticism. Eventually he converted into Christianity. But he still did not know much about Christ nor what to do with his life. He had much to learn, and he prayed for the patience to wait until the fullness of Christ’s message was revealed to him. He asks two great things of God, to know himself and to know God. Through reason’s guidance, he reflects on the nature of the soul, the pursuit of wisdom, and the longing for eternal life. Full of hope, he prayed. My Friends, on this Jubilee year let us pray Saint Augustine’s Pilgrim’s Prayer for the Soliloquies.
O God, even here in the midst of my darkness you speak to me of bright shiny places. You don’t try to drive me crazy in the midst of my troubles and you forbid others to upset me as I live out my days. I know that someday I will go to you. Open the door to my knock. Tell me how to get to where you are. I don’t have anything now to help me get to you except my desire for you. I don’t know anything beyond the passing things of this life. I want to know your eternal truths. Right now, the only thing I know is that I must search out these truths, but I don’t know how. Help me find my way. Amen.