July 24

The Needs of the Church over Contemplation

If the Church should request your services, do not accede to this request out of a desire to get ahead, nor refuse it moved by pleasureful idleness. Obey God, rather, in simplicity of heart, submitting yourselves humbly to him who directs you.

Neither should you prefer your peaceful leisure to the needs of the Church. If there were no people to minister to her as she gave birth, not even you would have found a way to have been born.

-- Letter 48, 2

Prayer. Lord, those are your best servants who wish to shape their life on your answers rather than shape your answers on their wishes.

-- Confessions 10, 26

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Tradition Day By Day The Augustinians - St. Thomas of Villanova Province


From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Augustine Day by Day: Minute Meditations for Every Day Taken from the Writings of Saint Augustine. Catholic Book Publishing Co. New York, 1986.


HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman