This August 28, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Here are 12 reflections that this holy bishop said about the Catholic Church in his historical writings.
These are his reflections.
1. The truth that dwells in the Catholic Church
“In the womb of the Church the truth dwells. Whoever has been separated from this womb of the Church, has to speak false things (…). We repeat to you: behold, Christ has said: ‘Thus it is written that the Christ suffered and he will rise from the dead on the third day.’ Luke 24:46. I recognize there our Head, there I recognize our Bridegroom: you also recognize the Wife with me.”
Expositions on the Psalms 58, 5
2. The sacrament of Baptism
“The sacrament of Baptism is undoubtedly the sacrament of regeneration: therefore, just as the man who has never lived cannot die, and the man who has never died cannot rise again, the man who has never been born cannot be born again (… ) a man must be born again after he has been born; for unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
On merit and forgiveness of sins and on infant baptism ii, 43 XXVII
3. Open yourself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation
“Who is the proud one? The one who does not confess his sins and repents to be healed through his humility. Who is the proud one? at the mercy of God.”
Expositions on the Psalms 94:11
4. The Good of Marriage
“The good of marriage in all nations and in all men lies in that of procreating and faith in chastity; but, as regards the People of God, also in the sanctity of the Sacrament”, since “it does not let go the marriage bond, except for the death of the husband or the wife”.
On the Good of Marriage , 32
5. The Eucharist and Salvation
“Well, if Saint Paul spoke of the law, which only the Jews received, with how much more reason will it be said of the natural law, engraved in the heart of man? If justice is achieved through the efforts of nature, then Christ died in vain. But if he did not die in vain, then no one can be justified and redeemed from the just wrath of God, that is, from his vengeance, except by faith and the sacrament of the blood of Christ.”
Nature and Grace, 2
6. Eucharistic Adoration
“He walked here in the same flesh, and gave us that same meat to eat for our salvation; and no one eats that meat, unless he has first worshipped: we have found out in what sense such a footstool of our Lord can be worshipped, and not only we sin by not worshiping him, but we sin by not worshiping him.”
Expositions on the Psalms 99, 5
7. The Perpetual Virginity of Mary
“Born of a mother who, although she conceived without being touched by man and always remained thus intact, in conceiving virginity, in giving birth to virginity, in dying virginity.”
On Catechizing the Uninstructed, 22, 40
8. The Sacrifice of the Mass
“Was not Christ offered once for all in his own person as a sacrifice? And yet, is he not offered equally in the sacrament as a sacrifice? (…) daily among our congregations?
Letters 98, 9
9. Purgatory
“After the judgment, those who are worthy of such purification will be purified even by fire, and they will be completely free from sin, and they will offer themselves to God in righteousness, and will indeed be immaculate victims and free from all imperfection.”
City of God XX, 26
10. The Intercession of the Saints
“Saints, the intercession of Christians renders religious honors to the memory of the martyrs, both to encourage us to imitate them and obtain a share in their merits, as well as the assistance of their prayers.”
Against Faustus the Manichee XX , 21
11. The Apostolic Tradition
“There are many things which are observed by the whole Church, and are therefore justly regarded as commanded by the apostles, which are not, however, mentioned in their writings.”
On Baptism, Against the Donatists, v, 23, 31
12. The Relics
“For even now miracles are wrought in the name of Christ, either by his sacraments or by the prayers or relics of his saints.”
City of God XXII, 8