Monk and Bishop (d. 604)
His life
+ Italian by birth, Augustine was a monk of St. Andrew’s Abbey in Rome.
+ In 597, Augustine, along with 39 companions, was sent to England by Pope Saint Gregory the Great, who named Augustine archbishop of Canterbury.
+ With the assistance of King Ethelbert, whom Augustine had baptized, Augustine successfully established three dioceses and a monastery dedicated to Ss. Peter and Paul at Canterbury.
+ Augustine labored as missionary-bishop for ten years and is honored with laying the foundations of the Church in England.
+ Following his death in 604, Saint Augustine was buried in the monastery he founded at Canterbury, which later became known as St. Augustine’s Abbey.
+ Because he maintained regular contact with the Church of Rome, seeking advice and instruction, Augustine has come to be regarded as an important ecumenical patron of the dialogue between the Church of England and Rome.
For prayer and reflection
Announce his salvation day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among the peoples, his wondrous deeds.—Psalm 96:2b-3
Spiritual bonus
On this day, we also remember Saint Barbara Yi. Raised by two Christian aunts after her parents died (the martyrs Saints Yi Yong-hui Magdalene and Yi Chong-hui Barbara), Barbara was arrested for her Christian faith. Although she was encouraged to deny her faith and, thereby, save her life, she persevered. While in prison, Barbara contracted typhoid fever, which was easily contracted because of the unsanitary conditions endured by the prisoners. Saint Barbara Yi died in Seoul May 27, 1839, at the age of fourteen. She was canonized with other Korean martyrs in 1984 and their collective liturgical memorial is celebrated on September 20.
Prayer
O God, who by the preaching
of the Bishop Saint Augustine of Canterbury
led the English people to the Gospel,
grant, we pray, that the fruits of his labors
may remain ever abundant in your Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...