Today begins the Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo, Doctor and Father of the Church, patron of those who seek God.
Augustine was born on November 13, 354 in Tagaste, a city of the Roman Empire located in North Africa (present-day Algeria). He received the name Aurelius Augustinus (Aurelio Augustine) from his parents, and according to the consensus of scholars he belonged to the Berber or Amazigh ethnic group, one of the many indigenous communities that inhabited the region.
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Patron of those who long for the truth
It is often said that Saint Augustine is ‘the patron saint of those who seek God’ because he was born to a pagan father – his mother was Christian – and lived as such until adulthood, when after a prolonged spiritual and intellectual search, he would embrace faith in Jesus Christ. . For this reason, his personal story has become paradigmatic of any difficult or late conversion.
His mother, Saint Monica, prayed tirelessly to see her son, Augustine, turned toward Jesus; while his desire for the truth was transformed into reliable proof of how little it matters how far one is from the Lord: as He waits with open arms for all His children, it will always be possible to find Him or return to Him if one He searches for you sincerely.
“Doctor of Grace”
In the year 385, while in Milan (Italy), Augustine leaves worldly life and converts to Jesus Christ. Saint Ambrose, bishop of the city, plays a decisive role in this process, and baptizes him at the age of 33. This was followed by a period of study and meditation in which Augustine remained close to her mother, Saint Monica, until she died in Ostia in 387.
Augustine moved to Hippo (present-day Algeria) with the intention of living a monastic life, but ended up being acclaimed and ordained a priest. Later he would be named bishop of the city. This stage is marked by his pastoral work, largely of a doctrinal and apologetic nature, and by his dedication to writing – from this last stage of his life come his famous Confessions and the City of God.
Augustine died on August 28, 430 – which is why his feast day is celebrated on this day.
In preparation for the celebration of his holiday, we offer below four alternatives for novenas in his honor.
Novenas to Saint Augustine
Central Editorial
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