Back in early September I wrote about Saint Augustine and the great wisdom he imparted. He and his writings are a subject of great interest to me these days. One reason, I believe, is because St. Augustine wrote a Rule for Religious which many Communities of men and women observe, including my own.

    Therefore, I would like to relate to you a bit more of his wisdom, as reflected in some of his writings and sayings. I hope they will give you food for thought and meditation.

• Jesus Christ will be Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all.

• A Christian people celebrates together in religious solemnity the memorials of the martyrs, both to encourage their being imitated and so that it can share in their merits and be aided by their prayers.

• There is an ecclesiastical discipline, as the faithful know, when the names of the martyrs are read aloud in that place at the altar of God, where prayer is not offered for them. Prayer, however, is offered for the dead who are remembered. For it is wrong to pray for a martyr, to whose prayers we ought ourselves be commended.

• At the Lord’s table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps.

• Neither are the souls of the pious dead separated from the Church, which even now is the kingdom of Christ. Otherwise, there would be no remembrance of them at the altar of God in the communication of the Body of Christ.

• He prays for us as our priest, prays in us as our Head, and is prayed to by us, as our God. Therefore, let us acknowledge our voice in Him and His in us.

• One and the same Word of God extends throughout the Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in the mouths of all the sacred writers, since He who was in the beginning, God with God, has no need for separate syllables; for He is not subject to time.

• Question the beauty of the earth, the sea, the air distending and diffusing itself, the sky... question all these realities. All respond: ‘See, we are beautiful.’ These beauties are subject to change. Who made them, if not the Beautiful One, who is not subject to change?

• Since we cannot, as yet, understand that He was begotten by the Father before the day-star, let us celebrate His birth of the Virgin in the nocturnal hours. Since we do not comprehend how His name existed before the light of the sun, let us recognize His tabernacle placed in the sun. Since we do not, as yet, gaze upon the Son inseparably united with His Father, let us remember Him as the ‘bridegroom coming out of His bride chamber.’ Since we are not yet ready for the banquet of our Father, let us grow familiar with the manger of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

    This was wisdom from a man who spanned the fourth and fifth centuries; one who gave a great gift to the Church for all generations. Below is some wisdom from a young teen reportedly in Arizona. If that is the source, then he or she are to be commended. Maybe you’ve seen it, but just in case you haven’t, I want to share this wisdom which is also in line with the Church. This modern wisdom is truly worth reading and considering.

THE NEW SCHOOL PRAYER

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
Something about going along with the crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen!

God bless you, dear reader!
Sister Mary Lucy Astuto

October 20, 2000
volume 11, no. 206
Sr. Lucy's GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER column

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