We count on God's mercy for our past mistakes, on God's love for our present needs, on God's sovereignty for our future.
Saint AugustineGod suffers not the pain of repentance, nor is He deceived in any matter, so that He would wish to correct that wherein He has erred. But as when a man repents of anything, he wishes to change what he has done; thus where you hear that God repents, look for an actual change. God does it differently from you, although He calls it by the name of repentance; for thou dost it, because you had erred; while He does it, because He avenges, or frees.
Saint AugustineTo be under pressure is inescapable. Pressure takes place through all the world; war, siege, the worries of state. We all know men who grumble under these pressures and complain. They are cowards. They lack splendour. But there is another sort of man who is under the same pressure but does not complain, for it is the friction which polishes him. It is the pressure which refines and makes him noble
Saint AugustineBeware of despairing about yourself: you are commanded to put your trust in God, and not in yourself.
Saint AugustineHe that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king.
Saint AugustineWhen I come to be united to thee with all my being, then there will be no more pain and toil for me, and my life shall be a real life, being wholly filled by thee.
Saint AugustineThe human race is inquisitive about other people's lives, but negligent to correct their own.
Saint AugustineThe Lord says, 'Whoever has, to him shall be given' (Mt. 13:12). He will give, then, to those who have; that is to say, if they use freely and cheerfully what they have received, He will add to and perfect His gifts.
Saint AugustineGod of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, run our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to your honor and glory.
Saint AugustineBe always displeased at what thou art, if thou desirest to attain to what thou art not.
Saint AugustineThe world is a great book, of which they that never stir from home read only a page.
Saint AugustineKeep on adding, keep on walking, keep on progressing: do not delay on the road, do not go back, do not deviate.
Saint AugustineIf you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are. For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained. Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.
Saint AugustineJustice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms.
Saint AugustineNothing so clearly distinguishes a spiritual man as his treatment of an erring brother.
Saint AugustineFortitude is the disposition of soul which enables us to despise all inconveniences and the loss of things not in our power.
Saint AugustineIf we tread our vices under our feet, we make of them a ladder by which to rise to higher things.
Saint AugustineThat one woman is both mother and virgin, not in spirit only but even in body. In spirit she is mother, not of our head, who is our Savior himself-of whom all, even she herself, are rightly called children of the bridegroom-but plainly she is the mother of us who are his members, because by love she has cooperated so that the faithful, who are the members of that head, might be born in the Church. In body, indeed, she is the Mother of that very head.
Saint AugustineTo wisdom belongs the intellectual apprehension of eternal things; to knowledge, the rational knowledge of temporal things.
Saint AugustineI am convinced that in all history there has never been a greater need to Pray for our Pastors than exists right now! Pastors are experiencing an unprecedented wave of attacks, stresses, challenges. obstacles. pressures.
Saint AugustineTwo works of mercy set a person free: Forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive.
Saint AugustineRemove justice, and what are kingdoms but gangs of criminals on a large scale?... A gang is a group of men... in which the plunder is divided according to an agreed convention. If this villainy... acquires territory, establishes a base, captures cities and subdues people, it then openly arrogates to itself the title of kingdom.
Saint AugustineBe always displeased with what you are if you wish to be what you are not. Always add, always walk, always proceed. Neither stand still nor go back nor deviate.
Saint AugustineFather, I am seeking: I am hesitant and uncertain, but will you, O God, watch over each step of mine and guide me.
Saint AugustineYou are surprised that the world is losing its grip? That the world is grown old? Don't hold onto the old man, the world; don't refuse to regain your youth in Christ, who says to you: 'The world is passing away; the world is losing its grip; the world is short of breath. Don't fear, your youth shall be renewed as an eagle.'
Saint AugustineIf you are suffering from a bad man's injustice, forgive him lest there be two bad men.
Saint AugustineIt is He who gave to this intellectual nature free-will of such a kind, that if he wishes to forsake God his blessedness, misery should forthwith result.
Saint AugustineBlessed is he who devotes his life to great and noble ends, and who forms his well-considered plans with deliberate wisdom.
Saint AugustineDo not follow any road, but that which Christ trod. This road seems hard, but it is safe.
Saint AugustineWhat is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers ... For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
Saint Augustine