Celebrating St. Augustine's day through his inspirational quotes
MANILA, Philippines – On August 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the life of St. Augustine of Hippo, the educator from Tagaste, Africa who became one of the greatest teachers of the faith in history after his moving conversion, from a "sinner to saint" - from a former life of loose living, which included entertainment and worldly ambitions to Catholic. St. Augustine ranked as the most trending topic today in the Philippines, which means Catholicism is evident in the country.
St. Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 to his pagan father Patricius and Catholic mother Monica (St. Monica). He is known to be the patron of brewers. He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, founder of religious priests and became one of the greatest saints who ever lived.
The narrative of St. Augustine's upbringing and conversion is recognized by many through his autobiographical “Confessions.” To honor his greatness, here are some of the inspirational passages in "Confessions," which will teach us some wisdom about life and faith.
I held my heart back from positively accepting anything, since I was afraid of another fall, and in this condition of suspense I was being all the more killed.
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
Ignorance and stupidity are given the names of simplicity and innocence...Idleness appears as desire for a quiet life.
And men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty waves of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, yet pass over the mystery of themselves without a thought.
The mind commands the body and is instantly obeyed. The mind commands itself and meets resistance.
The punishment of every disordered mind is its own disorder.
How can the past and future be, when the past no longer is, and the future is not yet? As for the present, if it were always present and never moved on to become the past, it would not be time, but eternity.
The Bible was composed in such a way that as beginners mature, its meaning grows with them.
Free curiosity has greater power to stimulate learning than rigorous coercion. Nevertheless, the free ranging flux of curiosity is channeled by discipline under Your Law.
You called and shouted and burst my deafness. You flashed, shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors, and I drew in breath and panted for You. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.
For what am I to myself without You, but a guide to my own downfall?
I recall how miserable I was, and how one day you brought me to a realization of my miserable state. I was preparing to deliver a eulogy upon the emperor in which I would tell plenty of lies with the object of winning favor with the well-informed by my lying; so my heart was panting with anxiety and seething with feverish, corruptive thoughts.
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