Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine, Saint Austin, Blessed Augustine, and the Doctor of Grace, was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius, located in Numidia. He is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his writings in the Patristic Era. Among his most important works are The City of God and Confessions...
ProfessionSaint
trample
We make a ladder for ourselves of our vices, if we trample those same vices underfoot.
despairing god knowledge man senseless suffer understanding
God will not suffer man to have a knowledge of things to come; for if he had prescience of his prosperity, he would be careless; and if understanding of his adversity, he would be despairing and senseless
abstinence easier
To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
weakness
When God is our strength, it is strength indeed; when our strength is our own, it is only weakness.
humility giving effort
If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not preceed all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.
delight contemplation teach
Teach correctly... Find delight in contemplation.
humility thinking design
You wish to be great, begin from the least. You are thinking to construct some mighty fabric in height; first think of the foundation of humility. And how great soever a mass of building one may wish and design to place above it, the greater the building is to be, the deeper does he dig his foundation.
soul sin shut-up
If you excuse yourself in confession, you shut up sin within your soul, and shut out pardon.
peace government justice
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
poison dies
To withhold forgiveness is to take poison and expect the unforgiven to die.
punishment suffering lasts
Temporal punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by some after death, by some both here and hereafter, but all of them before that last and strictest judgment. But not all who suffer temporal punishments after death will come to eternal punishments, which are to follow after that judgment.
omnipotence giving riches
God in his omnipotence could not give more, in His wisdom He knew not how to give more, in His riches He had not more to give, than the Eucharist.
catholic praying
To sing is to pray twice.
hope two despair
Two criminals were crucified with Christ. One was saved; do not despair. One was not; do not presume.