O Holy Spirit,
that I may think
what is Holy.
Guide me, O Holy Spirit,
that I may realize,
what is Holy.
Attract me to you,
O Holy Spirit
that I may love
what is Holy
Strengthen me,
O Holy Spirit,
that I may defend
what is Holy.
Defend me, O Holy Spirit
that I may never lose
what is Holy.
| :: AFTER CONVERSION | |
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A Priest and then a Bishop |
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From that time, Saint Augustine went
back to Tagaste, his native city, and lived for three years with his
friends and shared a life of prayer, study and poverty. All things were
in common and were distributed according to everyone's needs. He had
no idea of becoming a priest, but in 391 he was ordained as an assistant
to Valerius, Bishop of Hippo, and he had to move to that city.
He established a sort of monastery in his house, living with Saint Alipius, Saint Evodius, Saint Possidius and others according to the rule of the holy Apostles. Valerius who had an impediment in speaking appointed Saint Augustine to preach in his own presence and he has not interrupted the course of his sermons until his death (nearly 400 sermons). He vigorously opposed the Manicheans and the Donatists. |
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In 395 he was consecrated bishop as co-adjutor to Valerius, and succeeded him in the see of Hippo on his death soon after. He established regular and common life in his episcopal residence, and required all the priests, deacons, and subdeacons to renounce property following the regular mode of life recognized by the early Church as instituted by the Apostles.
He founded a community of religious women and on the death of his sister, the first "abbess", he addressed a letter on the general ascetic principles of the religious life; this letter is known as the "Rule of Saint Augustine". He employed the revenues of his church in relieving the poor and in redeeming the captives. Like another Moses or Saint Paul, he said to his people: "I do not want to be saved without you. What shall I desire? What shall I say? Why am I a bishop? Why am I in the world? Only to live in Jesus Christ: but to live in Him with you. This is my passion, my honor, my glory, my joy and my riches." Augustine's Last Days In May 429, the Vandal army began advancing across Africa, arriving at Hippo Regius a year later. Augustine was devastated by these events, but his trust in God bore him up and he refused to flee and abandon his flock. Hippo was under siege for fourteen months, but after only three of these Augustine fell ill with a fever. St. Augustine died on 28 August, 430, at the age of seventy-six. After conquering the city, the Vandals destroyed all of it but Augustine's cathedral and library, which they left untouched. Tradition indicates that his body was later moved to Pavia, where it is said to remain to this day. |
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