Thao Shall Drink the Hen or Thou Shall Never Drink Again

A Prayer Composed by St. Augustine,
and Recommended to the Devotion of all Catholics by Urban Eight

Before thy eyes, O Lord, nosotros bring our sins, and with them compare the stripes nosotros have received. If we weigh the evil we have washed, we find what nosotros endure to be much less than what we deserve. "What nosotros have committed far outweighs what nosotros suffer. Nosotros feel the punishment of sin, and notwithstanding we turn not from our willfulness in sinning. Our weakness faints under Thy scourges; but our perverseness is yet the aforementioned. Our diseased mind is racked with pain, and our neck is as potent as ever. Our life is spent in sighs and grief; but in our actions nosotros are not reformed. If M wait our subpoena, we grow no better; if M take revenge, we are not able to subsist. When we are chastised, nosotros acknowledge what nosotros take done; but when thy visitation is over, we forget what nosotros accept wept for. If 1000 stretch out Thy hand, we promise duty; if 1000 append Thy sword, we keep non our promise. If Thou strike, we weep for pardon; and if Thou pardon, we provoke Thee again to strike. Here, O Lord, are criminals confessing their guilt; we know that unless 1000 forgive Thou mayst justly destroy us. Grant, without our merit, what we ask, O Omnipotent Father, Who out of nothing didst create us to ask Thee, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anthem. Nosotros wait in expectation of our Saviour'southward coming, Who will reform our delicate bodies according to the model of his glorious Body.

V. Behold, the God of heaven is our Redeemer.
R. In Him, without fear, we will put our trust.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, who, for the redemption of mankind, didst send Thy simply Son to take our flesh, and suffer death on the cross, we humbly pray that as our Saviour has left us here the example of His patience, He may vouchsafe to make us hereafter partakers of his glory, Who liveth and reigneth one God, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, forever and e'er. Amen.

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Novena to St. Augustine

O Glorious St. Augustine, our beloved holy begetter, vouchsafe me your blessing; expect down upon me with compassion, and obtain for me to exist a worthy kid of yours. Let me say with a honey like that with which your seraphic heart burned for Jesus: "Too late have I known Thee, too late have I loved Thee," so that I may repair my by sinful life by the most ardent, generous honey for my divine Spouse, "for many sins are forgiven those who beloved much." Ask for me a share in your profound humility, that I may ever be fiddling and apprehensive in my ain eyes, preferring to be fabricated fiddling account of, in club to resemble Him, Who underwent such deep humiliations for the honey of me. Obtain likewise for me, my beloved holy father, an unbounded courage and conviction, and that the sight of my faults may humble, but not cloud me. Brand me unchangeably patient and kind to all; at the hour of death may you own me for your child, and may I, in your dear company, praise omnipotent God for all eternity. Amen.

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Rosary of St. Augustine and St. Monica

As explained in Part III., this piffling Rosary bears fractional indulgences of 200 days on every dewdrop (Bened. Thirteen., Feb. 29, 1728): hence a total of over 14 years each fourth dimension it is recited. Merely the following prayers, past "way of meditation, on the Twelve Manufactures of the Creed, are non necessary as a status. The mere recital of the thirteen Paters and Aves, concluded with a Hail, Holy Queen, are all that is necessary.

Under the Invocation of Our Blest Lady, Mother of Consolation.

Fiftyet us recite thirteen "Our Fathers" and thirteen "Hail Marys" in remembrance and veneration of our Lord Jesus Christ and the twelve Apostles who composed the Creed, epitomizing in it the principal mysteries of our Holy Faith; and that our prayers maybe acceptable, allow united states of america implore the assistance of Holy Mary, Female parent of Alleviation, of our Holy Father Augustine, and St. Monica our Mother.

Direct, nosotros beseech thee, O Lord, our actions past thy holy inspirations, and conduct them on past thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from thee, and past thee be happily ended, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

1ST ART. I believe in God, the Father Almighty Creator of sky and earth.--Allow the states consider how Almighty God created from zip heaven and earth and all things. --Most holy Virgin, help u.s. to despise the vanities of earth, that we may obtain the everlasting rewards of sky. Pater, Ave.

2ND ART. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.--Let us consider that Jesus Christ our Lord is the true and only Son of the Eternal Father.--Most holy Virgin, help us to believe and hope in Him, and love Him with all our hearts, because He alone is the truthful Saviour of the globe. Pater, Ave.

3RD ART. Who was conceived past the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.--Let united states of america consider that Jesus is the true Son of Mary e'er Virgin: she conceived Him in her about chaste womb by the operation of the Holy Ghost, and brought Him forth without injury to her immaculate purity.--Most glorious Virgin, assist us to recover and preserve the divine grace, that, every bit you are the natural mother, then nosotros may be the adopted children of God. Pater, Ave.

fourth ART. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.--Let united states of america consider the passion, death, and burial of our crucified Redeemer, tenderly compassionating Him in our hearts.--Most afflicted Female parent, obtain for us, that the wounds of our Blessed Lord may be always deeply impressed on our hearts. Pater, Ave.

fifth Art. He descended into hell; the 3rd solar day He arose once more from the dead.--Let the states consider that the soul of Jesus descended into Limbo to liberate the Holy Fathers, with whom He arose glorious the third day after His death.--O holy Virgin, consoled in seeing your Divine Son arisen, assist us to arise from sin to a new life of grace and glory. Pater, Ave.

6th ART. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.--Let united states consider that Jesus, forty days after his resurrection, blessed his Holy Female parent, apostles, and disciples, and the faithful, who followed Him to Mount Olivet, in whose presence He ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of his Divine Father.--O Blessed Virgin, assist us to apprehensive ourselves and behave our cantankerous hither, that we may be after exalted and enjoy eternal glory in heaven. Pater, Ave.

7TH Fine art. From thence He shall come up to judge the living and the dead.--Let united states consider that Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to the Valley of Josaphat to estimate the whole human race on the concluding day.--Holy Mary, advocate of sinners, assistance u.s., that existence true-blue during life, we may be at the right manus of God with the elect on that dreadful 24-hour interval. Pater, Ave.

8TH ART. I believe in the Holy Ghost.--Let us consider the near profound mystery of the Blessed Trinity, and with an act of lively faith let us believe that, every bit the Divine Son was generated from eternity by the Begetter, so the Holy Ghost in like fashion proceeds from eternity, from the Father and the Son, and is with them one God.--Most pure Virgin, obtain for us from your Divine Spouse, an ardent charity, that our hearts, cleansed from all terrene affections, may burn always with the fire of divine beloved. Pater, Ave.

9th Fine art. The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints.--Let us consider that God, through his infinite goodness, without any merit of ours, caused us to be built-in and brought upward in the bosom of the Catholic Church, in which we participate of the infinite claim of Christ and the saints.--Most pious Virgin, help u.s. to thank Him for so great a favour, and to exist ready, if necessary, to shed our blood to confess the truth of our holy organized religion. Pater, Ave.

10TH ART. The forgiveness of sins.--Let usa consider that the Divine Goodness is infinitely greater than our wickedness, and that God can remit the faults which we miserable sinners commit.--Most pure Virgin, obtain for u.s. true contrition both now and at the hour of our death, that, reconciled with God, we may subsequently experience the happy furnishings of the divine mercy. Pater, Ave.

11TH Fine art. The resurrection of the body.--Let us consider that on the solar day of general judgment we shall all ascension again, each receiving his own body.--O immaculate Virgin, may thy holy Cincture preserve usa from carnal impurities, that we may all appear spotless and unsullied on that glorious day. Pater, Ave.

12TH ART. Life everlasting.--Let us consider the ultimate end of homo, namely, the everlasting life prepared by God for His faithful servants.--Most prudent Virgin, assistance united states of america to make a adept use of our time now, that we may obtain time to come the eternal joys of the blest in sky. Pater, Ave.

FINALLY. Let usa consider how the Holy Cincture represents the Sacred Humanity of our Divine Redeemer, who for dearest of us shed his near Precious Blood, and laid downwardly His life amidst the cruel torments and mockery of His enemies.--O holy Mother of God, assistance u.s.a. to meditate with fruit on the Sacred Cincture which we vesture, every bit it is a mysterious emblem of your Divine Son, our Blessed Redeemer. Pater, Ave.

Prostrate at your feet, O well-nigh Holy Mary, Mother of Alleviation, we recommend to you the preservation and exaltation of the Holy Cosmic Church, the extirpation of heresies, peace amid Christian rulers and all the faithful, and, above all, the conversion of poor sinners, and the relief of the suffering souls in Purgatory.

Hail, holy Queen, Female parent of mercy; Our life, our sweet, and our promise, To thee practise nosotros cry, poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send upwardly our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Plow, then, most gracious abet, thy eyes of mercy towards us, And after this our exile prove unto us The blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O nearly clement, about pious, most sugariness Virgin Mary. (7 years indulgence.)

This final offering of a Pater and Ave is in award of the Sacred Humanity of our Lord.

Five. Pray for u.s.a., O Holy Mother of Consolation.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Father Augustine.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Pray for the states, O Holy Mother Monica.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Defend, we beseech thee, O Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, of our Holy Father Augustine, and of our Holy Mother Monica, this society (or family) from all adversity, and graciously preserve information technology, prostrate in spirit before thee, from all the snares of our enemies.

O God, our refuge and strength, and the foundation of all goodness, mercifully hear the fervent prayers of thy Church building, and grant that what we ask with organized religion nosotros may effectually obtain: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Just the above 13 Paters and Aves, and the Hail, Holy Queen, are necessary to be entitled to all our daily indulgences.

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A Devout Prayer to Our Holy Begetter St. Augustine

O Glorious Male parent, St. Augustine, the light and oracle of the faithful, I near fervently join with the whole Church of Christ in thanking the Almighty for having called thee to become a peculiar object of His dear, and an everlasting monument of His tender mercies. Illustrious penitent, thy beauteous conversion proves to the whole world that no crimes are also not bad for the God of all mercies to pardon, no centre too corrupt for His love to purify, and no obstruction likewise strong for His grace to overcome. Penetrated with veneration for thy virtues, I choose thee for my Father, my Protector, and my Advocate. I most humbly beseech thee to have compassion on my youth, and to protect me in those dangers which thou well knowest are attendant on my inexperienced age. O blessed victim of charity, obtain that I may seriously consecrate my heart to my Creator, and faithfully discover that slap-up commandment of clemency so deeply graven on thy centre. Thou wert the son of thy mother's precious tears, the conquest of her prayers, and afterwards the true-blue imitator of her virtues; obtain for me the well-nigh profound respect and tender affection for my parents, gratitude for their care, and the grace to turn a profit of the advantages which their solicitude for my eternal welfare has provided for me. I recommend to thee in a detail manner, O neat saint, all those unhappy souls who are in the dreadful state of mortal sin, and conjure thee, by the unceasing tears 1000 didst shed over thy ain wanderings, to procure them the grace of conversion, and to obtain for me such horror of sin that I may avoid it as the simply real evil, and thereby merit to behold for all eternity that uncreated Beauty who was too long hidden from my view, and eternally love that infinite Goodness Whom thou didst bitterly regret having loved as well late. Amen.

Another Prayer.

Wdue east humbly supplicate and beseech thee, O thrice blest Augustine, our glorious Father, that one thousand wouldst be mindful of us poor sinners this twenty-four hours, daily, and at the hr of our expiry, that by your merits and prayers, and the merits and prayers of all the saints of your holy Order, we may be delivered from all evils, also of soul equally body, and daily increase in virtue and good works; obtain for us that nosotros may know our God and know ourselves, that in His mercy He may cause us to dear Him higher up all things in life and decease; impart to us, we beseech thee, some share of that love with which you so ardently glowed, that our hearts being all inflamed with this divine love, and happily parting out of this mortal pilgrimage, we may deserve to praise with thee the most amiable Heart of our dearest Jesus for a never ending eternity. Amen.

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Anthem for the Commemoration of St. Augustine
Salve, gemma confessorum."

Gem that glitterest 'mid the throng
Of the Lord's Confessors vivid,
Thine the vox, and thine the tongue
Skilled to tell of sky aright.

Southcribe of life--greatly tried
In the hidden depths of organized religion--
Shining like a lamp to guide
Holy Doctors on their path.

Due southacred Pontiff, crowned with approval,
Look on united states of america who get together here;
All with simple dear confessing
Thee our guide and Father beloved.

Look on u.s., and pb our feet
To the life that knows no closing
Where the blessed spirits run across.
Where the saints are all reposing.

Common of Doctors

R. Well done, good and faithful servant, because g hast been faithful over a few things I volition place thee over many things: Enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

V. Lord, grand didst deliver to me 5 talents: behold I take gained other v talents. Enter 1000 into the joy of the Lord.

R. Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God: Therefore by an adjuration the Lord made him increment amongst his people.

5. He gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon his head. Therefore by an oath the Lord made him increase among his people.

R. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent: G fine art a priest forever according to the lodge of Melchisedech.

V. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand. Chiliad art a priest forever co-ordinate to the order of Melchisedech.

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St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church building
past Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

St. Augustine, that great Doctor of the Church, who stands far to a higher place all human praise, was built-in at Tagaste, in Africa, in the twelvemonth 354. His father, Patricius, was a heathen; his mother, Monica, a Christian, who is honored as a Saint on the 4th of May. Nature had bestowed upon Augustine the near liberal gifts, and his talents were such every bit to fit him for the written report of all the sciences. He excelled, still, in oratory, to which he early evinced peachy inclination. His father had educated him in paganism, but his pious female parent endeavored to convert him to Christianity. One twenty-four hours, when suffering excessively from cramps, and supposing that he was about to die, he desired to be baptized; only no sooner had his pains ceased than he changed his heed.

Due westhen at Carthage, where he studied rhetoric, he was seduced by the Manichees, and became an adherent to their heresy. From his ain business relationship, he spent his early youth in great frivolity, and became so neat a slave to impurity, that he feared he never should be able to abstain from it. To this horrible vice he was brought, as he wrote himself, by idleness, gaming, the abandon of his father, who was not strict enough with him, immoral plays which he frequented, and bad company. His pious female parent left nothing undone to correct his conduct; she exhorted him, and punished him, but her efforts were entirely fruitless. He connected in this life of sin and shame for nine years, during which St. Monica prayed, with floods of tears, to the Omnipotent, for her son's conservancy.

Thousandod, at length, granted her petition. Augustine began to be displeased with the Manichean heresy, equally he perceived it had no foundation. His unchaste life too began to cloy him more and more, and he sought to free himself by changing his residence. He therefore left Carthage, where, after finishing the study of rhetoric, he had taught with great success; and, against the volition of his female parent, he went to Rome. There he became dangerously sick, and he attributed his recovery to the prayers of his mother. After having fabricated himself famous in Rome by his eloquence, he was sent, by the Roman prefect Symmachus, to Milan, where the emperor desired to plant an able principal of rhetoric.

At that menses, the holy bishop St. Ambrose, resided at Milan, and was greatly celebrated on account of his holiness and eloquence. Augustine sought his acquaintance, and was often present at his discourses, although it was non from any desire to acquire, just simply from marvel. He desired to go acquainted with the manner of the bishop, and to acquire whether he truly deserved the peachy reputation he enjoyed on account of his eloquence. This curiosity, yet, led him eventually to the truth; for, while he intended simply to listen to the manner in which the Saint expressed himself, he heard, at the same time, how well founded his teachings were, and became thoroughly convinced of the falsity of the Manichean heresy. Only even so this, he could not persuade himself to have the truth of the Cosmic Church; his unchaste desires barred the way. He admired the pure life of St. Ambrose, but feared his own inability to follow such an instance.

Geanwhile, St. Monica, induced by pious solicitude for her son, had come up to Milan. Repairing to St. Ambrose, she made him acquainted with her son'south spiritual condition, and begged him, with bawling eyes, to use all his endeavors to convert him. The holy bishop, deeply touched past the mother's devotion, consoled her with the hope that her son would surely soon come up to the noesis of the sick utilize he made of his life, and would reform, which opinion of the Saint was verified. Simplician, a venerable and pious monk, one day accidentally related to Augustine, whose listen was in a very unsettled land, that Victorinus, the most celebrated orator at Rome, was every bit old as he was at that time, when he received holy baptism. Pontician, a friend and compatriot of Augustine, told him i day, of the conversion of 2 majestic courtiers who, afterward reading the life of St. Antony, immediately reformed, left the court and retired from the world, to live every bit hermits in solitude.

These, and other facts considerably moved the center of Augustine, and he began to call back of changing his carry. His reason convinced him of its necessity, only he was restrained past his evil habits. Mean solar day after day he formed the resolution to change his life, but imaginary causes withheld him, and he deferred from in one case to another. One day, when he had struggled severely with himself, on the one hand, told past evil habit, that it would be incommunicable for him to alive chastely, while on the other, the virtue of guiltlessness pointed to so many celibate youths and maidens, men and widows, maxim to him: "And are you not able to practise what these and those are doing!" he wept bitterly, and walking into the garden, he sat down under a fig-tree and sighed in deep grief to God; "O Lord, how long? Tomorrow, tomorrow? Why do I not at once put an cease to this miserable existence?"

When, exhausted with the sorrow inside his soul, he was thus sitting there, he heard a vox saying to him; "Take upwards and read! take up and read!" Full of awe, he arose, took up the nearest book, and opening it, he read the words of St. Paul: "Let us walk honestly every bit in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chamberings and impurities, non in strife and envy, merely put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences." Information technology needed no more to calm the storm in Augustine'due south middle and end his inner strife. His mind was suddenly changed, and he determined, not only to lead a celibate life, but also to abandon heresy and unite himself to the truthful faith past receiving holy baptism. He immediately imparted his resolution to his pious mother, and so devoted to his spiritual welfare, and to St. Ambrose, and afterwards careful preparation, he received holy baptism, on Easter Eve, in the 33d yr of his historic period. It is believed that the well-known hymn, "We praise Thee, O Lord! " was equanimous by St. Ambrose and the newly baptized Augustine, and that information technology was sung on this occasion for the first time, to give thanks to the Almighty for the grace conferred.

The joy of St. Ambrose and of St. Monica, at this conversion, tin amend be imagined than described. I will simply say this; as the pious mother had shed floods of tears, in the bitterness of her sorrow, and so she wept tears of joy, when at last the upshot took place to which she had so long looked forwards. Presently after St. Augustine had been baptized, he desired to return to his dwelling house, to alive just for his conservancy. He fix out accompanied past his holy mother, who, when they had reached Ostia, became sick and ended her holy life past a happy death. Augustine, subsequently having remained a short time at Rome, continued his voyage and arrived in Africa. He retired to his house in the country and lived in that location for 3 years, in confinement and continual prayer, fasting and other penances, and in contemplating the divine mysteries and reading the word of God.

A nobleman requested him to go to Hippo, and equally it seemed to Augustine to be for a skilful and holy purpose, he complied. Having been there for some time, he was ordained priest by bishop Valerius, who was well acquainted with his virtue and great knowledge. After his ordination, which, in his deep humility, he long opposed, he founded a monastery and commenced to alive a religious life with several other learned men. He wrote rules for them and thus made the showtime of the "Social club of St. Augustine" afterwards so highly celebrated in the Church of Christ. Subsequently he had thus spent four years, bishop Valerius ordered him to preach the Gospel, which, at that remote period, was done only by bishops. Incredible is the good which the holy human did by his sermons, and the esteem which he gained. In consideration of this, Valerius, with the consent of the other bishops, and to the great rejoicing of all Catholics, consecrated St. Augustine equally his Coadjutor, to assist him in the authorities of the Diocese, and, at his death, to be his successor.

Westant of infinite prevents us from enlarging on all the good which St. Augustine did, as well during Valerius' life, as later on his death, past abolishing many abuses; past defending the Catholic faith; past vanquishing the nigh bitter heretics; and particularly by writing a peachy many books, which contain an inexhaustible treasure of erudition. Even the most learned men of that catamenia were unable to embrace how i human could write with such ability on and then many dissimilar subjects. Hence the conclusion to which all came was, that his talents and erudition had been an especial gift of God bestowed upon him, because the Church of Christ, assailed and persecuted by so many different heresies, needed a man of such wonderful genius to protect and defend information technology. None of the heretics were equal to him; they all feared him as much every bit the Catholics loved and honored him. The fame of his not bad holiness and wisdom penetrated fifty-fifty into far off lands, and everywhere his praise resounded on account of the many and glorious victories which he won over the heretics, besides in public disputes as on all other occasions. St. Jerome, St. Paulinus, and other holy men who were then living, sought his friendship, corresponded with him, and hesitated not to ask his advice. The Sovereign Pontiffs of his time held him in slap-up esteem, and in all the councils at which he assisted, his vocalisation was listened to with respect and attention.

Idue north his own eyes, he possessed no claim, and he was so far from all cocky-esteem, that he humbly received the advice of anyone. He publicly acknowledged and corrected several faults which had crept into his works. Withal more to be admired is the fact, that he wrote a book in which he laid blank, before the whole globe, all the iniquities he had committed before his conversion to the true faith, in order that the divine mercy bestowed on him might move other sinners to repentance. His income as bishop, and all presents fabricated to him, were given to the poor. From the time of his baptism until his death, he lived in chastity, and proved that a human, although for many years a slave to vice, tin can, by the grace of God, break all sinful fetters. He, however, avoided carefully every occasion which might endanger his chastity, and used astringent ways to protect it. The addiction of cursing, which he had before he was baptized, he overcame so entirely, that, during all the rest of his life, no one always heard a curse from his lips. He hated calumny and detraction so exceedingly, that he had written the following words on the wall of his dining-room: "For him who defames the grapheme of his neighbour, in that location is no place at this table." One day, it happened that a company began to speak ill of a neighbor. The Saint, turning to him, said : "Sir, either I must erase those words or y'all must change your conversation."

The neat love of God, which burned in his heart, acquired him unceasingly to repent of the iniquities of his past life. He therefore oft exclaimed with a sorrowful heart: "Also tardily have I known thee; too late have I loved thee, thou Beauty ever ancient, and ever new! O unhappy fourth dimension in which I did non dear thee!" This repentance he continued until his death, which took place in his 76th twelvemonth, to the nifty grief of all Catholics. Four years earlier he departed, he had entrusted the Episcopal functions to someone else, equally he felt exhausted from his ceaseless labors, and thenceforth passed his time in devout exercises. During this time, Hippo was besieged by the cruel Vandals. The misery awaiting this city grieved the Saint so securely that he prayed near fervently to the Almighty, either to save the city from the enemy, or not to allow him alive to see its destruction. After this prayer he was seized by a fever, which he considered equally a messenger of approaching death. He received, with the most profound devotion, the holy sacraments, and having requested that the vii penitential psalms should be written out for him, he had them hung virtually his bed, on the wall, that in reading them he might end his life.

Inorth his last days he desired to be left alone, that he might not be interrupted in his devotional exercises. This solitude lasted twelve days, during which he shed abundant tears in reading the penitential psalms. He said, one day: "Every Christian, how piously soever he may have lived, ought to die a penitent." With such feelings of intense dearest and contrition, this swell and holy Doctor of the Church died, in the twelvemonth of our Lord 430. His holy trunk was buried with great solemnity in the Cathedral, only was later taken to Sardinia, and thence to Pavia, where it rests at this day, and is greatly honored and venerated. The encomiums which the most eminent men take bestowed upon this Saint are nigh countless. His works, in which he still continues to live, raise the fame of his learning and virtue above all human praise.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Out of many points in the life of St. Augustine,
which are worthy of simulated, we will consider only a few.

I. St. Augustine was already thirty-three years quondam, when he was converted and began to serve the Almighty. Up to that time he had lived in bang-up frivolity: but subsequently information technology, in the almost perfect holiness. He oftentimes wept because he had begun and then tardily to love and serve God, and he endeavored past his zeal to absolve for his neglect. You have, perhaps, passed the greater part of your life every bit wickedly, or fifty-fifty worse than St. Augustine. Endeavor so, to correct your conduct in the time which is yet left to you. Apologize daily with your whole heart for having begun then late to serve God, and make apology, by redoubled fervor for the time you have lost.

Two.

St. Augustine long deferred his conversion, but when once resolved, he earnestly did penance and continued in it and returned non again to his former life of sin. Have you not as well deferred your reform long plenty? Brand today a heroic determination. Reform, do penance; and proceed in information technology with firmness and constancy.

Three.

The incentive to the conversion of St. Augustine was the preaching of St. Ambrose, which he went to hear, and the verse of the Epistle of St. Paul, which he read. A sinner who neither goes to hear a sermon nor reads devout books, is far from conversion, far from his salvation. How is your conduct in regard to this?

Iv.

St. Augustine revealed to the whole world the iniquities which he had committed in his youth. Why do you hesitate to reveal your sins to a priest, in secret? The same holy teacher says: "If y'all lie hidden without confession," that is, if you lot do not confess, but hibernate your sins, " yous volition be damned without confession." Is information technology less terrible to be damned, than to confess your sin to a priest who can never reveal a discussion of it?

V.

St. Augustine believed at kickoff that it would be impossible for him to live chastely and reform his evil habits. Only the example of so many Saints who lived a pure life, and afterwards his ain experience taught him that information technology was possible; for, he confessed that what had seemed impossible had become an easy chore. Y'all will experience the same if, similar St. Augustine, you commence to conquer yourself.

Vi.

From a hardened heretic, St. Augustine became not only a fervent Cosmic, but also a teacher and protector of the true faith. The gift of the Cosmic faith he prized in a higher place everything, and offered frequently to God almost humble thanks for it. "There is no greater treasure," he writes, "no greater accolade, no greater skillful, in this world, than the Catholic faith." From the period of his conversion, he was eager in his endeavors to convert the heretics from their errors, and bring them back into the stake of the true Church building, both, past give-and-take of mouth, and besides by his pen. His nearly fervent wish was, that all might be Catholics. May yous esteem the souvenir of the Cosmic religion more than y'all have heretofore done. Give thanks to God that He has bestowed this souvenir upon you lot. Seek, by words as well as past a truly Christian life, to convert others to the true organized religion. And, finally, larn from St. Augustine, how you should laissez passer the time which God gives y'all, when he sends y'all sickness before your end. Guard yourself against frivolous and idle conversations, practice not allow them at your sick bed. Use the time to repent of your iniquities. Let others read to you from a devout book, that you lot may constantly exist occupied with good thoughts. The last days of your life are precious; employ them rightly; they never return. Cease not to apologize of your sins and to pray God to forgive you lot, until your last breath; for, the words of St. Augustine are and always will remain true: " No Christian, however piously he may accept lived, should die without repentance."

______________________________ Prayer of St. Augustine to Our Lord in His Passion and Expiry

O Most adorable Lord, Who for the redemption of the earth didst deign to exist born, to be circumcised, to be rejected by the Jews, to be betrayed by Judas with a faux kiss, to exist bound with cords and chains, equally an innocent lamb to be led to the slaughter, to be ignominiously exposed before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod; to exist accused by false witnesses, scourged, and shamefully loaded; to be denied with spittle, crowned with thorns, beaten with blows, struck with a reed, buffeted in the face, despoiled of thy clothes, attached with nails to a cross, and then raised upon it, and placed between two thieves; to exist offered gall and vinegar to potable; and, last of all, to be pierced with a lance. Practise Chiliad, O my Lord Jesus Christ, by the virtue of thy most holy sufferings, which Thou didst and then undeservedly undergo, for the merit and in memory of thy most holy death and cross, deliver me from the pains of hell, and deign to carry me, equally Thousand didst the skillful thief who was crucified with Thee, to the kingdom of thy Father, where Thou reignest with Him and the Holy Spirit ane God, world without end. Amen.

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Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay thee thy but dues of praise and thanksgiving, g who past the wondrous assent of thy will didst rescue a fallen world? What songs of praise can our weak human nature recite in thy award, since it is by thy intervention lone that it has found the way to restoration? Accept, and then, such poor cheers as we have here to offering, though they be unequal to thy merits; and, receiving our vows, obtain by thy prayers the remission of our offenses. Bear thou our prayers inside the sanctuary of the heavenly audience, and bring forth from it the antidote of our reconciliation. May the sins we bring before Almighty God through thee, go pardonable through thee; may what we ask for with sure confidence, through thee exist granted. Take our offering, grant usa our requests, obtain pardon for what we fear, for 1000 fine art the sole hope of sinners. Through thee we hope for the remission of our sins, and in thee, O blessed Lady, is our hope of reward. Holy Mary, succour the miserable, assistance the fainthearted, condolement the sorrowful, pray for thy people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God; may all who keep thy holy commemoration feel at present thy help and protection. Be thou ever ready to aid us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it thy continual intendance to pray for the people of God, chiliad who, blest by God, didst merit to bear the Redeemer of the world, who liveth and reigneth, earth without stop. Amen.--Saint Augustine

(Indulgence of 3 years)

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Verses to St. Monica by Father Russell, S.J.

Among the sainted matrons whom we honor
With Mass and matin song,
One draws the gaze of filial dearest upon her
From all the throng.
Next to St. Anne, the Blessed Virgin's mother,
I prize St. Monica o'er ev'ry other.

1000reat is the glory of Augustine--high
His identify on world, in sky.
But if St. Monica, with prayer and sigh,
Less difficult had striven
To bring the child forth to his truer birth,
What were his fame in heaven, and e'en on globe?

His father's proper name to the states is goose egg strange--
"Patrick" but, ah! no saint.
Saint surely she, who all so soon could change,
That pagan taint--
Who wept and prayed, and suffered till she won,
Her heathen married man, her one-half-heathen son.

Have you not seen them sitting on the beach?
The younger face up less fair--
They talk not, 'tis society for each
The other's at that place--
Hands interlaced, deep eyes upturned in thought:
Their hearts bless God, whose grace the change hath wrought.

Hid in her son, yet many a touching trace
In Agustine's folio we detect,
Which shows her similar to him not more in face
Than royal mind.
Another detail for the mutual story--
How big a female parent's part in hero's glory.

St. Monica, still many a mother shares
Thy strong maternal faith.
Notwithstanding sheds such bitter tears, all the same breathes such prayers,
To save from decease
Some soul perchance from all hearts else exiled,
Every bit vile or wicked, even so her child, her kid!

Pray for the wretched mothers who this hour
Weep for the doubly expressionless,
Weep for the cherished wanderer, and shower
Tears on his head
Whose faults and sins would weary out all others.
Save the meek Heart of Jesus, or a mother'due south.

When thou hadst longer been away from earth
Than she (God rest her!) nevertheless
Who did far more for me than requite me birth,
Whose cheek was wet
With tears less bitter (God exist thanked!) than thine,
Augustine asked prayers for thee--and I for mine.

Be Monicas, oh, mothers! pray and weep,
Ship ceaseless sighs to heaven.
That ye for sky and God secure may keep
Whom God has given.
Love them, only salve their souls at any price--
"The child of holy tears cannot be lost."

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Lessons of St. Augustine

Saint Augustine, Sermo ad Caesariensis Ecclesiae plebem half dozen:

"No man can observe salvation save in the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church building he can discover everything relieve salvation. He can have dignities, he can have the Sacraments, can sing 'Alleluia', reply 'Amen,' accept the Gospels have faith in the Proper noun of the Begetter, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and preach it besides, but never relieve in the Catholic Church tin he find salvation."

St. Augustine, De Spiritu et littera, lviii

But "God wills all men to be saved to come and to the knowledge of the truth (i Timothy, ii, 4); not, however, so equally to take away their volition, for the adept or bad use of which they are nigh justly judged. When this happens it is true that unbelievers deed reverse to God'southward will, when thy do not believe in His Gospel; but that does not hateful that they conquer God, but that they deprive themselves of the peachy good and involve themselves in evils every bit their reward, after to experience in their punishment His power whose mercies they despised in His gifts."

"Sinners do non hope for the pardon of the sins of which they apologize: simply they hope that, though they continue to commit sin, God will have mercy upon them: and thus they make the mercy of God serve as a motive for continuing to offend Him. This hope will brand God hasten the execution of His vengeance: for surely a master will non defer the penalization of servants who offend him because he is good. God is skilful: I volition do what I please!"--St. Augustine

We tin be guilty of no greater folly than to delay our preparation for death, repentance, the reception of the sacraments, and the amendment of our life, from day to day, from the time of health to the fourth dimension of illness, and in illness to the very last moments, thinking that fifty-fifty then we can obtain pardon. St. Augustine observes: "Information technology is very dangerous to postpone the functioning of a duty on which our whole eternity depends to the most inconvenient time, the concluding hour."

"Let no i say to himself. I do penance to God in individual. I do it earlier God. Is it so in vain that Christ hath said: 'Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in sky?' Is it in vain that the keys have been given to the Church? Exercise we make void the Gospel? void the words of Christ?"--St. Augustine

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