Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Tag: Augustine

St. Augustine: The Conversion

28. Now when deep reflection had drawn up out of the secret depths of my soul all my misery and had heaped it up before the sight of my heart, there arose a mighty storm, accompanied by a mighty rain of tears. That I might give way fully to my tears and lamentations, I stole… Read More ›

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St. Monica: A Mother’s Love and Prayers

(Augustine) soon embraced a way of life that brought (Monica) further grief, as he fathered a child out of wedlock in 372. One year later, he began to practice the occult religion of Manichaeism. In her distress and grief, Monica initially shunned her oldest son. However, she experienced a mysterious dream that strengthened her hope… Read More ›

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We abhor What They Were

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.  And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But… Read More ›

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Humanity’s Fall Through a Woman Now Restored Through Women.

The women came to the tomb, but they didn’t find the body in the tomb. Instead, they were told by angels that Christ had risen. The women reported this to men. And what’s written? What did you hear? These things seemed in their eyes like an idle tale. How very unhappy is the human condition!… Read More ›

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Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary

7. … The Son of Mary is also Joseph’s Son by virtue of the marriage bond that unites them: “By reason of their faithful marriage both of them deserve to be called Christ’s parents, not only his mother, but also his father, who was a parent in the same way that he was the mother’s… Read More ›

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Prayer is Trust in God

(In times of affliction) we do what every human would do, we pray that it may be taken away from us. We owe, however, at least this much in our duty to God: if He does not take it away, we must not imagine that we are forgotten by Him, but, because of our loving… Read More ›

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Prayerful Endurance

(In time of affliction) we do what every human would do, we pray that it may be taken away from us. We owe, however, at least this much in our duty to God: if He does not take it away, we must not imagine that we are forgotten by Him, but, because of our loving… Read More ›

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Sin and Compulsions: An Inner Tyranny

People who sin because of their compulsions are not having much fun, nor is their life spectacularly fulfilling. They may experience relief or temporary gratification of one sort or another, but fundamentally they are unfree. In a sense they are non-persons. They are being driven by their passions, both conscious and unconscious. Whatever they may… Read More ›

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Heavenly Citizenship

As for this mortal life, which passes in a few days and comes to an end, what difference does it make to a person who is going to die what empire he lives under as long as those who rule do not force him to commit unholy and unjust deeds? . . . With regard… Read More ›

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The Eucharist must be understood Spiritually

Jesus received flesh from the flesh of Mary. He walked here in that flesh, and he gave that flesh to us to be eaten for salvation [John 6:54-63]. No one eats that flesh without first worshiping. . . . [Jesus said] “Understand spiritually what I say. You are not to eat this body that you… Read More ›

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