Saint Who?
Saints Who Taught about Prayer
Saint Augustine
Bishop and Doctor († 430) Feast: August 28
Saint Augustine of Hippo is famous for many reasons. Through his conversion, he demonstrated the power of God’s grace to overcome sin. Through his sermons, he taught his flock how to live out the Catholic faith in a pagan world. Through his voluminous writings, he defended faith with such brilliance that he was named a Doctor of the Church.
Perhaps Augustine’s most famous work is his autobiography, in which he shares the story of his conversion. But his Confessions is like an extended prayer. Augustine confesses to God—and to the reader—all the ways he tried to pursue his own selfish desires and run away from God. Yet God (and Augustine’s mother, Saint Monica) did not give up on him, and Augustine repeatedly praises God for his power and mercy.
Augustine also emphasized that God dwells by grace in the hearts of those who love him. He wrote that the phrase “Our Father who art in heaven” reminds us that “those who pray should desire the one they invoke to dwell in them.” Like Augustine, we should pray for God to dwell in our hearts. And then we should thank God for his patience with us.
Lord of mercy, we thank you for all the graces, particularly the grace of conversion,
which you have bestowed upon us.
