St. Augustine

August 28:  St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor

For his mom, see yesterday's post.

See the connections with today's readings?
Legend below

Memorial for Martha Nuñez

Readings

• 1 Thes 2:9-13  We tirelessly proclaimed the Gospel to you, behaved blamelessly, treated you as father to children, encouraged you. God's word is at work in you.

• Ps 139:7-12ab  Lord, you know me.  Wherever I go, there you are, guiding me, holding me.

• Mt 23:27-32  “Woe to you, hypocrites.  You're like whitewashed tombs, beautiful outside but evil/filthy inside."

Music

• O God, you search me/ Farrell (sheet music) (psalm, different setting from yesterday's)
• Restless is the Heart/ Farrell (sheet music) (St. Augustine)

On St. Augustine and music

At the end of a fine note about music, the Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes St. Augustine, "He who sings prays twice" (1156, quoting Patrologia Latina (PL) 36, 914). I'd heard he actually said, "He who sings well prays twice," (emphasis mine) but what he really said is more like,

"The one who sings praise not only praises but also praises with gladness.  The one who sings praise not only sings but also loves the One of whom he sings.  In the praise is preaching; in the song, loving with affection."

He also said, "cantare amantis est" (singing belongs to one who loves) (Sermons 336, 1, PL 38, 1472). See Who sings well prays twice… NOT!

Regarding Augustine's inner conflict about music, see Confessions 33:49-50.

(BTW a keyboardist goes by the name "Confessions of St. Augustine.")

Here's a link to St. Augustine's other works.

St. Augustine, the musical and the movie

• Restless Heart, from St. Augustine, the music and the restless heart, the musical 
• Restless Heart, the movie (BTW there's a Restless Heart band too.)

Dress legend

• "I love my dad" tie:  Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy treated Thessalonians as a father treats his children (1st reading)

• White shirt:  whitened sepulchers (gospel)

Medical pin:  St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church
(yes, I know he wasn't that kind of doctor)

"Roadrunner" tie pin:  "Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence, where can I flee?" (psalm)

1st month in review