St. Augustine: On the Necessity of Humility

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On August 28 of each year, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Augustine of Hippo, a theologian and bishop from the 5th century.  In the midst of a personal celebration of the memorial (it's almost like a birthday celebration because he's my patron), it was quite easy to lose track of time.  However, I must take the opportunity to write about the saint who has interceded for and passed on much of God's grace to a recalcitrant sinner, even if it is a day late.

Because of my deep devotion and connection to St. Augustine, it is most proper to read his ancient words on a regular basis, and to meditate on how they are applicable to my life.  As my eyes traversed the pages of Confessions yesterday, there appeared a passage on the relationship between humility and conversion.  The great saint clearly identified the importance of a virtue whose importance has diminished throughout history.

"Therefore, by humble devotion return is made to you, and you cleanse us from our evil ways, and are merciful to the sins of those who confess to you, and graciously hear the groans of those shackled by sin, and you free them from the chains that we have made for ourselves.  This you do, if we do not raise up against you...[by] putting more love upon our own personal good than upon you, the good of all that is" (Book III, Chapter VIII).

Quite simply, God helps those who wish to find conversion.   By His grace, and by growth in the virtues (which also comes from grace), people can be "free from the chains" that bind them.  Indeed, God wants to be merciful, but He only pours out that mercy on those who acknowledge the need for it.

This cycle of grace is true in my own life.  During my last years of high school and through college, there a number of chains around my soul that I freely (even if ignorantly) placed there and even wore with pride.  Yes, my love of academic knowledge and personal pleasure (read "more love upon [my] own personal good") were the standards by which I measured "happiness" and blessings.  How ignorant and errant was this line of thought! 

It was not until God moved and spoke to me in the silence of my heart, that I began to understand that the chains were not a fashion statement for my soul.  It was then that I understood how much they were weighing upon me; how much they restricted my freedom.  At that point, the point where I surrendered my pride, God was able to reach down and begin to deconstruct the intricate system of bondage around my soul.

That sequence of events began over four years ago under the patronage of St. Augustine, who wore chains similar to my own.  And, it is a trend that continues today.  I make no pretensions of being rid of pride; of having perfectly cultivated humility in my life.  However, I know that St. Augustine's intercession and God's amazing grace will allow me to achieve a greater degree of freedom than I have ever known.  Then, I will be able to recognize fully "the good of all that is."

Pray for an increase of God's grace and our assent to that grace through humility and surrender.

God bless! 

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