The life of San Agustin began in AD 354, the son of a Roman official in North Africa. At 19, he read an essay by Cicero on the meaning of “truth,” and it was then that Augustine set about pursuing such an intriguing, if illusory, notion.
During his philosophical journey, Augustine experienced a great deal of pain and suffering in his life. He went through phases of severe depression and debilitating pain. He witnessed things that could not be reconciled with theological doctrine. It was this irreconcilable trade-off between truth and evil that kept Augustine hopping from philosophy to philosophy for more than a decade.
At the age of 31, Augustine had a supernatural experience “as if a light of relief from all anxiety flooded my heart.” It was then that “all shadows of doubt were dispelled” and he accepted God as a part of his life.
In the prayer to saint augustineWe ask the great convert to Christianity to intercede for us, so that we abandon evil and grow in virtue. Our earthly life is nothing more than a preparation for eternity, and true charity, love, is a foretaste of Heaven.
Prayer to Saint Augustine to find peace
We humbly beg you and beg you, O thrice blessed Augustine, to remember us, poor sinners, on this day, every day, and at the hour of our death, so that by your merits and prayers we may be freed from all evils, both of the soul and of the body, and of the daily increase in virtues and good works; obtain us so that we know our God and know ourselves, so that in his mercy he makes us love him more than all things of life and death; impart to us, we beseech you, some part of that love with which you glow so ardently, so that our hearts are kindled with this divine love, happily departing from this mortal pilgrimage, and we deserve to praise with you the loving heart of Jesus for an endless eternity .
Prayer to Saint Augustine for every day
Oh, great Augustine, our father and teacher, who knows the brilliant ways of God and also the crooked ways of men, we admire the marvels that divine grace has worked on you, making you a passionate witness to truth and goodness to the neighbor service.
At the beginning of a new millennium marked by the Cross of Christ, teach us to read history in the light of divine Providence, which guides the events of the final encounter with the Father. Guide us towards goals of peace, igniting in our hearts their own desire for the values in which we, with the strength that comes from God, can build the “city of man”.
May the profound teaching that you drew, with a loving and patient study, from the ever-living sources of Scripture enlighten all those who today are tempted by alienating mirages. May you have the courage for them to embark on the path towards that “inner man” in which the One, who is the only one who can restore peace to our restless hearts, awaits.
Many of our contemporaries seem to have given up hope of reaching, amid the many conflicting ideologies, the truth for which they continue to yearn in the depths of their hearts. Teach them never to abandon their search in the certainty that, in the end, their efforts will be rewarded by the satisfactory encounter with that supreme Truth, which is the Source of all created truth.
Lastly, Saint Augustine, give us also a spark of that burning love for the Church, the Catholic mother of saints, which sustained and gave life to the efforts of his long ministry. Do it to us, as we walk together under the guidance of our legitimate shepherds, to reach the glory of the heavenly Fatherland where, with all the Blessed, we can unite in singing the new and eternal Hallelujah. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Augustine to ask for children
«The deeper our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater our desire, the greater our capacity to receive the gift, which is truly great. The more fervent the desire, the more worthy its fruits will be. When the Apostle tells us: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16), he means this: Desire incessantly that life of happiness that is nothing other than eternal, and ask it only of him who is capable of giving it ». Amen.
Prayers attributed to Saint Augustine
The following prayers are widely attributed to Saint AugustineAccording to this saint, we don’t need to pray for what we need because God already knows what we need before we even ask for it. Instead, we should pray, he suggests, to increase our desire for God, and so that we can receive what He is preparing to give us.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me, oh Holy Spiritso that all my thoughts are holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, so that my work may also be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, whom I love but who is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Keep me therefore, O Holy Spirit, so that I may always be holy. Amen.
Act of Petition
Surrender, my God, surrender to me. Behold that I love you, and if my love is too weak, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot measure my love to know how far it falls short of enough, but let my soul rush to embrace you and never be turned away until hidden in the secret refuge of your presence. This is the only thing I know, that it’s not good for me when you’re not with me, when you’re just outside of me. I want you in myself. All the abundance of the world that is not my God is absolute necessity. Amen.
Prayer for the indwelling of the Spirit
Holy Spirit, powerful Comforter, sacred bond of the Father and the Son, hope of the afflicted, descend into my heart and establish in it your loving domain. Light the fire of your Love in my warm soul so that I can be totally subject to you. We believe that when you dwell in us, you also prepare a dwelling place for the Father and the Son.
Tell yourself, then, to come to me, Comforter of abandoned souls and Protector of the needy. Help the afflicted, strengthen the weak, and support those who falter. Come and purify me. May no evil desire take over me. You love the humble and resist the proud. Come to me, glory of the living and hope of the dying. Guide me by your grace so that I can always please you. Amen.
Prayer to find God after a long search
Too late I have loved you, Beauty so old, Beauty so new. Too late I have loved you! You were inside me, but I was outside myself, and there I looked for you! In my weakness I ran after the beauty of the things you have made. You were with me, and I was not with you.
The things you have done took me away from you, the things that would have no existence if they did not exist in you. You have called, you have cried, and you have pierced my deafness. You have radiated, you have shone, and you have dispelled my blindness. You have sent your fragrance, and I have inhaled it, and I long for you. I have tasted you, and I hunger and thirst for you. You have touched me and I ardently desire your peace. Amen.
Prayer to seek God continually
Oh Lord my God, I believe in you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To the extent of my possibilities, to the extent that you have given me power, I have searched for you. I got tired and worked. Oh Lord my God, my only hope, help me to believe and never stop looking for you again. Grant me that I always and ardently seek your face. Give me the strength to look for you, because you help me find you and you have given me more and more hope to find you.
Here I am before you with my firmness and my weakness. Preserve the first and heal the second. Here I am before you with my strength and my ignorance. Where you have opened the door for me, welcome me at the entrance; where you have closed the door to me, open it to my cry; allow me to remember you, understand you and love you. Amen.
Prayer for self-knowledge
Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You, and want nothing but You.
Let me hate myself and love you.
Let me do everything for you.
Let me humble myself and exalt you.
Let me think of nothing but you.
Let me die to myself and live in You.
Let me accept whatever happens, as if it were from you.
Let me banish the self and follow you, and always wish to follow you.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You,
That I deserve to be defended by you.
Let me fear for myself.
Let me fear you, and allow me to be among those who are chosen by you.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for Your sake.
Let me hold on to nothing but You
And let me be poor because of you.
Look at me, so that I can love you.
Call me so I can see you, and forever enjoy you. Amen.
act of hope
By your mercy, Lord, my God, tell me what you are to me. Tell my soul: “I am your salvation.” Speak, then, so that I may hear, Lord; my heart listens; open it so that I may hear you, and say to my soul: “I am your salvation.” After hearing this word, let me hasten to seize you.
Don’t hide your face from me. Let me see your face even if I die, lest I die wanting to see it. The house of my soul is too small to receive you; let it be expanded by you. It’s all in ruins, do you repair it? There are things in her – I confess and I know – that must offend your sight. But who will clean it up? Or what others besides you will I shout? Cleanse me of my secret sins, O Lord, and of those of others, forgive your servant. Amen
prayer for the sick
Watch, Lord, with those who wake up, or watch, or cry tonight, and make your angels take care of those who sleep. Take care of your sick, Lord Christ. Rest your tired. Blessed are the dying. Relieve those who suffer. Have pity on the afflicted. Protect those who are happy. And for the sake of all your love. Amen.
Prayer of trust in God’s heavenly promise
My God, make me know you and love you, so that I can find my happiness in you. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me improve every day until I can fully do so, let me know you more and more on earth, so that I can know you perfectly in heaven. Allow me to love you more and more on earth, so that I can love you perfectly in the heights.
So my joy will be great on earth, and perfect with you in heaven. O God of truth, grant me the happiness of heaven so that my joy may be full according to your promise. Meanwhile, may my mind think of that happiness, may my tongue speak of it, may my heart be consumed by it, may my mouth pronounce it, may my soul hunger for it, may my flesh thirst for it, and may all my being desires it until I enter through death into the joy of my Lord forever. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Augustine to ask for God’s protection
Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know you and want nothing but you. Let me hate myself and love you. Let me humble myself and exalt you…