RBWords

     Few preachers can claim the kind of influence that St. Augustine has on our church!  To begin with, his CONFESSIONS remains one of the classics of spirituality in the western Catholic Church.  I still recommend it to students who are struggling with vocational interests.  We Dominicans follow a "rule" that Augustine wrote for the communities of men and women he established in his diocese in North Africa.

     Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Augustine's mother, who had to do a lot of praying for her son.  He was educated with the best as a teacher of "rhetoric," - basically a teacher of speech and public speaking, a talent much prized in his time.  He lived with a mistress for years and together they had a son who died at a young age - Adeodatus (translated: God-given!).  The story of his conversion and acceptance in the church by St. Ambrose is recounted in the CONFESSIONS.

     Augustine's life shows us the possibility of change and integrity of leadership and how intelligence and holiness can blend for a lasting influence.  Right now, the gospel scriptures for the day are from Jesus' scorching criticism of the Jewish religious leadership of his time.  Our own bishops are feeling the heat right now.  The words of St. Paul in today's first scripture offer us good advice: "Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught..."  We'll get through the challenges and have a stronger church.  AMEN