Saint Augustine invites to search the happiness and coming into ourselves. August 28th we celebrate the holiness of Our Father Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church. We publish an article by Enrique A. Eguiarte, director of AVGVSTINVS magazine, in which he reminds the steps of the Hipona’s bishop in his searching of God.
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Saint Augustine of Hippo, inspiration of the Order’s charism |
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Although from the dates of his life alone – 354 to 430 – Augustine might seem a figure from the distant past, remote from our own concerns today, closer inspection tells a different story. His influence on the Christian Church and on Western society generally has been truly immense. We need only glance at the abundance of Augustinian references in just about any area of Church teaching, the fact that even in the documents of the last general council of the Church – Vatican II in the 1960’s – only the Bible is quoted more frequently or note the frequent use of his sermons and commentaries in the breviary. More religious communities follow his Rule than any other. Some of his best-known books can still be found in the bookshops and he is likely to merit some kind of reference in much modern philosophy and theology. Add to all this the fact that Augustine reflects in his lifestyle so many of the dilemmas, failures and successes of even today’s men and women and we soon realise that he is indeed a man for all seasons, ages and places. The feast day of St Augustine of Hippo, bishop and doctor of the Church, is celebrated throughout the Church on 28th August. |