St. Augustine of Hippo

The one who is our very Life descended into our world, and bore our death, and slew it with the abundance of His own life. Thundering, He called out to us to return to Him in heaven. 1

Every morning you put on your clothes to cover your nakedness and protect your body from inclement weather. Why don't you also clothe your soul with the garment of faith? Remember each morning the truths of your creed, and look at yourself in the mirror of your faith. Otherwise, your soul will soon be naked with the nakedness of oblivion. 2

Trials and tribulations offer us a chance to make reparation for our past faults and sins. On such occasions the Lord comes to us like a physician to heal the wounds left by our sins. Tribulation is the divine medicine. 3

You don't love in your enemies what they are, but what you would have them become by your prayers. 4

The wicked exist in this world either to be converted or that through them the good may exercise patience. 5

God bestows more consideration on the purity of the intention with which our actions are performed than on the actions themselves. 6

Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things. 7

The measure of charity may be taken from the want of desires. As desires diminish in the soul, charity increases in it; and when it no longer feels any desire, then it possesses perfect charity. 8

Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation. 9

Don't say you have a chaste mind if you have unchaste eyes, because an unchaste eye is the messenger of an unchaste heart. 10

We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation. 11

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. 12

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. 13

I will not live an instant that I do not live in love. Whoever loves does all things without suffering, or, suffering, loves his suffering. 14

God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering. 15

Tell us straight that you do not believe in the Gospel of Christ; for you believe what you want in the Gospel and disbelieve what you want. You believe in yourself rather than in the Gospel. 16

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. 17

All graces given to those outside the Church are given them for the purpose of bringing them inside the Church. 18

All those who belong to Jesus Christ are fastened with Him to the cross. 19

Whoever looks in the Church for something other than Christ is a mercenary. 20

Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee. 21

If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept, because you will gain one friend. 22

If you find a God you understand, You have built yourself an idol. 23

Patience is the companion of Wisdom. 24

Beg God for the gift to love one another. Love all people, even your enemies, not because they are your brothers and sisters but so they may become such. 25

Try to acquire the virtues you believe lacking in your brothers. Then you will no longer see their defects, for you will no longer have them yourself. 26

Be Thou the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest along the way. 27

Let us sing a new song, not with our lips but with our lives. 28

To my God a heart of flame; to my neighbor a heart of love; to myself a heart of steel. 29

If you discover your nature is changeable, transcend yourself. 30

What is grace? I know until you ask me; when you ask me, I do not know. 31

Rightly has a friend been called "the half of my soul". 32

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels and saints charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest your weary ones. Bless your dying ones. Soothe your suffering ones. Pity your afflicted ones, shield your joyous ones. And all for love's sake. 34

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. 35

O, Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there thy cheerful beams. 36

Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, don't seek to understand so that you may believe, but believe so that you may understand. 37

Greed will demand of you labor, danger, hardships, and troubles, and you will readily agree to its demands. And for what purpose? So you can have what will fill up your purse but empty out your peace of mind! 38