For the Feast of St. Augustine

St. Josemaria Escriva, author of The Way, wrote,

 “Persevere in prayer. Persevere, even when your efforts seem sterile. Prayer is always fruitful.”  

Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo on August 28.  (On the new calendar the feasts of Sts. Monica and Augustine, mother and son, are celebrated on August 27 and 28, but traditionally St. Monica's feast day is on May 4.)  St. Monica provides us with a wonderful example of perseverance in prayer. As a wife to a pagan and a mother to a son who was living an immoral life, Monica stormed heaven with prayers for their souls, for their conversions. Her prayers proved to be fruitful; her husband converted a year before his death and her son, Augustine, returned to his Christian upbringing and eventually became a great saint and Doctor of the Church. May we persevere in our own prayers in the same manner as St. Monica, trusting in God to answer our prayers.

After St. Augustine's conversion, he spoke and wrote about God, becoming one of the Church's most influential theologians of the time. His works and words were filled with his fervent love for God.  The following prayer was composed by St. Augustine.

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Prayer of Trust in God's Heavenly Promise

My God, let me know and love you, so that I may find my happiness in you. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me to improve daily until I may do so to the full. Enable me to know you ever more on earth, so that I may know you perfectly in heaven. Enable me to love you ever more on earth, so that I may love you perfectly in heaven. In that way my joy may be great on earth, and perfect with you in heaven.
O God of truth, grant me the happiness of heaven so that my joy may be full in accord with your promise. In the meantime let my mind dwell on that happiness, my tongue speak of it, my heart pine for it, my mouth pronounce it, my soul hunger for it, my flesh thirst for it, and my entire being desire it until I enter through death in the joy of my Lord forever. Amen.
--Saint Augustine of Hippo