Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - During the general audience on Wednesday 16 January, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI dwelt again on the great figure of St Augustine Bishop of Hippo, highlighting how, four years before his death, precisely on 26 September of the year 426, Augustine called the faithful to present to them the one he wished to be his successor: the priest Heraclius. The assembly broke into a warm applause of approval crying 23 times: "Thanks be to God! Praised be Christ!". The following years for Augustine who wished to dedicate more time to studying Sacred Scripture, were four years of intense intellectual activity, as the Holy Father recalled: “He completed important works and started other no less demanding ones, he took part in public debates with heretics - always seeking dialogue- he intervened to promote peace in African provinces threatened by barbarian tribes from the south”. Sad to say in 429 Vandals passed the straits of Gibraltar and poured into Mauritania, rapidly reaching other rich African provinces. In May or June of 430, they besieged Hippo. According to his biographer, Possidius, Augustine was deeply saddened by the massacres and destruction to which he was forced to assist, the dispersion of priests and men and women religious, some of whom were tortured, while others were killed or taken prisoner.
“Although old and tired Augustine remained in the breach - Pope Benedict XVI recalled -, comforting himself and others with prayer and meditation on the mysterious plans of Divine Providence. He spoke of the ‘ageing world - it is truly old this Roman world-, he spoke of this ageing as he had done years earlier to console refugees from Italy when in 410 the Goths of Alarico invaded the city of Rome … But although the world grows old, Christ is ever young. Hence the call: ‘Never refuse to become young again united with Christ, even in old age. He tells you: Do not fear, your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle’. Therefore the Christian must not be dejected in difficult situations, instead he must work to help those in need”.
Even in times of barbarian invasion, Augustine urged the bishops, priests and men of the Church never to abandon the people who needed them but to continue to assist them with the sacred ministry, sharing their lot because "This is the supreme trial of charity ". Benedict XVI underlined: “How can we fail to recognise in these words, the heroic message which many priests down through the centuries have welcomed and made their own?” While the city of Hippo resisted against the barbarians, Augustine's monastery-house “opened its doors to welcome bishops who asked for hospitality” the Pope said, recalling that Augustine spent the last days of his life, marked by illness, in penance and prayer, to prepare for death which came on 28 August in the year 430.
Benedict XVI concluded his catechesis stressing the relevance of the holy Bishop of Hippo who speaks to us still today “with his faith ever fresh ”: “In Saint Augustine who speaks to us, who speaks to me, in his writings, we see the ongoing relevance of his faith; faith which comes from Christ, the Eternal Incarnate Word, Son of God and Son of man. And we see that this faith is not of yesterday, although it was preached yesterday; it is always of today, because Christ is yesterday, today and for ever. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
At the end of the audience the Holy Father asked those present to pray for Christian unity: “The day after tomorrow 18 January we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, especially important this year since 100 years have passed since it was first held. The theme is St Paul's call to the Thessalonians: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes 5,17); a call I gladly make my own and which I address to the whole Church. Yes it is necessary to pray incessantly asking God with insistence for the great gift of unity among all the Lord's disciples. May the inexhaustible power of the Holy Spirit lead us to make sincere efforts to promote unity, so that all together we may profess that Jesus is the only Saviour of the world.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/1/2008; righe 47, parole 690)
