Life Experience as a Path to Augustinian Contemplation
Disappointment, disillusion, disenchantment and boredom in life are unpleasant negative experiences, but they are not without positive fruit if we allow them to teach us something.
Disappointment, disillusion, disenchantment and boredom in life are unpleasant negative experiences, but they are not without positive fruit if we allow them to teach us something.
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Let’s us now go to the expression “Return to your heart”. For…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Another route of contemplation for Augustine was charity or love itself. Charity…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Another route to contemplation was Augustine's gazing at the world with wonder…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Naturally, most important for all the routes is the element of silence…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Yet another route of contemplation for Augustine - which is not open…
Saint Rita faced many difficulties in her life and learned to trust God in the midst of them. She relied heavily on the intercession and wisdom of Saint Augustine, wisdom that can also help us trust when faced with our own difficulties today.
Today we are experiencing a lot of division and conflict. Anger and vengefulness are common themes we see in the news headlines. In this post, Augustine offers us some wisdom for reflection on our own attitudes towards others we may disagree with or find difficult.
What happens when a sacrament is celebrated by a sinful priest? Augustine provides an explanation that assures us of the validity of the sacrament.
In the City of God, Saint Augustine gives us a path beyond political or ideological affiliation towards unity.
We have all made resolutions to improve our lives only to find our human weakness get in the way. This post reflects on Augustine's invitation to find hope in the mercy of God rather than our own strength.
We all face difficult relationships. Do we give up on those we find difficult to work or live with, or do we remain hopeful that one day the grace of God will heal those relationships? Augustine invites us to remain optimistic.
We are living in a time when people are very divided over complex issues in which there really are no easy answers. Scripture and Saint Augustine offer us the virtue of humility as a path to unity and our common search for truth.
What can Augustine's own experience of grief over the death of his mother teach us about dealing with difficult emotions?