November 23 - Augustine Day by Day

Christ Instructs Us in Silence
Enter into your heart, as the Prophet Isaiah says. And, if you have faith you will find Christ there. There He speaks to you.
I, the preacher, must raise my voice when I speak to you. But Christ instructs you more effectively in silence.
Sermon 102, 2

Prayer: O God, do not be silent to me, but speak the truth in my heart, for it is only truth You speak. Let me enter into the secret chamber of my heart and sing to You songs of love, which are largely sighs: my attempts to express what cannot be expressed.
Confessions 12, 16

November 22 - Augustine Day by Day

Pine for the Homeland
Now let us hear, bothers and sisters, let us hear and sing. Let us pine for the city where we are citizens. By pining, we are already there. We have already cast our hope, like an anchor, on that coast.
I sing of somewhere else, not of here; for I sing with my heart, not my flesh. The citizens of Babylon hear the sounds of the flesh; the founder of Jerusalem hears the tune of the heart.
Commentary on Psalm 64, 3

Prayer: Lord, lets us make our home again in You and thus avoid being lost. Long ago we left it - for what is our home but Your Eternity, which does not disappear because we have deserted it!
Confessions 4, 16

November 21 - Augustine Day by Day

Father and Judge
Really, what profit is there in temporal good health and in the ties of blood if we willingly spurn the eternal inheritance of Christ? And this opinion is not mine.
It comes from the words of the Almighty God Himself: whoever rejects Him in this world as Father will find Him in the next as Judge!.
Letter 52, 4

Prayer: O Lord, our God, let our mouths not speak of vanities. Make us happy in You, for we will not lose You if we have clung to You, nor shall we go lost. Make us happy in You.
Sermon 113, 6

November 20 - Augustine Day by Day

Captivity and Liberation
We must also know first our captivity, then our liberation: we must know Babylon and Jerusalem. These were two cities recorded in the Bible.
They were founded to symbolize those two "cities" that began in the far past and will continue to the end of time.
Commentary on Psalm 64:1-2

Prayer: Lord, while I move and bear this body, I pray tha i may be pure, generous, just, and prudent. May I be a perfect lover and knower of Your Wisdom. Finally, may I be worthy of Your Dwelling Place and live in Your most blessed Kingdom.
Soliloquies 1, 1

November 17 - Augustine Day by Day

Friendship is Godlike
Particularly when I am worn out by the upsets of the world, I cast myself without reservation on the love of those who are especially close to me.
I know I can safely entrust my thoughts and considerations to those who are aflame with Christian loveand have become faithful friends to me. For I am entrusting them not to another human, but to God in Whom they dwell and by Whom they are who they are.
Letter 73, 3

Prayer: Lord, with your help we have one what You commanded. Reward us as You promised.
Sermon 31, 6

March 14 - Augustine Day by Day

Cross and Resurrection
Jesus'cross is an example of painful toil. His resurrection is the reward of painful toil.
In the cross He showed us how we are to bear suffering. In His resurrection He showed us what we are to hope for.
On the Creed 3, 9

Prayer: You come, O Christ, humble in appearance. You were scorned, whipped, crucified, and killed. Yet on the third day You rose again, and on the fortieth day You ascended into heaven, where you sit at the right hand of the Father and where no human being sees you!Commentary on Psalm 53,4

December 29 - Augustine Day by Day

A Great Event
Now the Lord established a civilization into which to be born, just as He created a mother from whom to be born. These events we have all celebrated in song.
This He has done who raises up the poor to place them in the company of princes. This is a great event, a great joy! Commentary on Psalm 86, 7-8

Prayer: Let Christ help you, the Son of the Virgin and the spouse of vigins, physically born of the virginal womb and spiritually joined in virginial marriage! Holy Virginity 2, 2

December 25 - Augustine Day by Day

It is Christ's Birthday!
Rejoice you who are just. It is the birthday of Him who justifies. Rejoice you who are weak and sick. It is the birthday of Him Who makes people well. Rejoice you who are in captivity. It is the birthday of the Redeemer. rejoice you who are slaves. it is the birthday of the Master.
Rejoice you who are free. It is the birthday of Him Who makes us free. Rejoice all you Christians. It is Christ's birthday. Sermon 184, 2

Prayer: Let us devoutly celebrate this day, For just as the first ones to share our faith adored Christ lying in the manger, let us adore Him reigning in heaven. Sermon 203, 3