Augustinian Spirituality for Today.

Few people have influenced the life of the Church and the development of western Christianity more than Augustine. This man of towering intellect remains today a deeply significant figure in the history of the Christian community and the development of its theological understanding. In addition to his great theological work, Augustine was also a pastor, deeply concerned for his friends and for the people of his diocese in North Africa, and offering much to them in discovering and deepening their relationship with God and each other  in the midst of everyday life. Above all Augustine was man of prayer who drew deeply on the Scriptures as his guide and inspiration.

As an aid in the search and the journey these reflection/discussion articles are offered in the spirit of St Augustine. They are principally designed for use by those who, in a truly Augustinian way, want to share the search and the journey with others, though they can, of course, also be used for personal prayer and reflection.

When using the leaflets in a group it is suggested that: the meeting begins with the invocation of the Holy Spirit; the Word of God and the thoughts of Augustine be read slowly. Each passage should be followed by a short time of silence to allow the words to rest in the heart and mind; the reflection should be read aloud and then time be given for silence, during which participants can re-read the reflection and have some time to absorb the ideas; participants be asked to share their initial reactions; when the discussion has concluded, there should be a time of silence.