On the Feast of Mary Magdalene – July 22 “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” The famous catchphrase first appeared in the letters of St. Augustine, when he wrote, “With love for humanity and hatred of sins.” It was later included in the autobiography of Mohandas Gandhi as “Hate the sin and not the sinner.” ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI gave the following homily at an ecumenical prayer service in Erfurt, Germany during his last papal visit to that country in 2011. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through them” (Jn 17:20). According ...read more

Below is the prayer written by Pope John Paul II to St. Augustine on the occasion of 1,650th anniversary of the saint’s birth. O great Augustine, our father and teacher, who knows the shining paths of God and also the crooked paths of men, we admire the marvels that divine Grace has worked in you, ...read more

From the office of daily readings for August 28, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor O Eternal Truth, true love and beloved eternity from The Confessions of Saint Augustine Urged to reflect upon myself, I entered under your guidance the innermost places of my being; but only because you had become my helper was ...read more

St. Monica with her son, St. Augustine. This week we celebrate two saints who belong to the same family. More incredibly, one is responsible conversion of the other. We’re speaking, of course,  about St. Monica and St. Augustine. St. Monica was born in Tagaste, which is now Algeria. Because of her name and place of ...read more

This morning the Holy Father met with the Council of the Evangelical Germany Church in Erfurt, in a former Augustinian Convent. A historic moment as this place is where Martin Luther was ordained a Catholic priest in 1507. Ladies and Gentlemen, As I begin to speak, I would like first of all to thank you ...read more