St. Augustine of Canterbury
St. Augustine of Canterbury
Died: 605
At the end of the sixth century anyone would have said that Augustine had found his niche in life. Looking at this respected prior of a monastery, almost anyone would have predicted he would spend his last days there, instructing, governing, and settling even further into this sedentary life.
But Pope St. Gregory the Great had lived under Augustine's rule in that same monastery. When he decided it was time to send missionaries to Anglo-Saxon England, he didn't choose those with restless natures or the young looking for new worlds to conquer. He chose Augustine and thirty monks to make the unexpected, and dangerous, trip to England.
Missionaries had gone to Britain years before but the Saxon conquest of England had forced these Christians into hiding. Augustine and his monks were to bring these Christians back into the fold and convince the warlike conquerors to become Christians themselves.
Every step of the way they heard the horrid stories of the cruelty and barbarity of their future hosts. By the time they had reached France the stories became so frightening that the monks turned back to Rome. Gregory had heard encouraging news that England was far more ready for Christianity than the stories would indicate, including the marriage of King Ethelbert of Kent to a Christian princess, Bertha. He sent Augustine and the monks on their way again fortified with his belief that now was the time for evangelization.
King Ethelbert himself wasn't as sure, but he was a just king and curious. So he went to hear what the missionaries had to say after they landed in England. But he was just as afraid of them as they were of him! Fearful that they would use magic on them, he held the meeting in the open air. There he listened to what they had to say about Christianity. He did not convert then but was impressed enough to let them continue to preach -- as long as they didn't force anyone to convert.
They didn't have to -- the king was baptized in 597. Unlike other kings who forced all subjects to be baptized as soon as they were converted, Ethelbert left religious a free choice. Nonetheless the following year many of his subjects were baptized.
Augustine was consecrated bishop of the English and more missionaries arrived from Rome to help with the new task. Augustine had to be very careful because, although the English had embraced the new religion they still respected the old. Under the wise orders of Gregory the Great, Augustine aided the growth from the ancient traditions to the new life by consecrating pagan temples for Christian worship and turning pagan festivals into feast days of martyrs. Canterbury was built on the site of an ancient church.
Augustine was more successful with the pagans than with the Christians. He found the ancient British Church, which had been driven into Cornwall and Wales, had strayed a little in its practices from Rome. He met with them several times to try to bring them back to the Roman Church but the old Church could not forgive their conquerors and chose isolation and bitterness over community and reconciliation.
Augustine was only in England for eight years before he died in 605. His feast day is celebrated on May 26 in England and May 28 elsewhere. He is also known as Austin,a name that many locations have adopted.
Copyright 1996-2000 Terry Matz. All Rights Reserved.
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St. Augustine you are a saint we adore in our community. Pray for us and our families, lift us spiritually when we are down.
Dear Saint,
Kindly fill the Holy Father, Pope Francis with the missionary zeal which you undertook in England so that a re-conversion of Europe may take place. Let the Holy Spirit guide and protect him in helping the Europeans and Americans embrace the True Faith which can redeem their soul and lead them to eternal life. Empower him with the spiritual authority to preach the Gospel to the modern, more evil minded pagans disguised as Christians. Let the true Light shine through Europe and America to enlighten their minds to the graces of Christ. Let them not be misled by the clouded materialism and secularism. Enable them to gaze through the lost glories of their grand fathers as Christians. Grant the Holy Father strength and courage to become the true disciple of Christ. Amen.
St. Augustine of cantebury i'm so greatful for whatever i have learned about your life and i ask for your prayers that we may have a task to perform to bring Christ to the community that needs Christ. I also ask for courage for family commitments amidst challenges. We pray wisdom and discernment as God has provided for their fees this term and always be thankful to God. Amen
St.Augustine of Canterbury please pray for me and my family
I ask for your help I have great faith
God Bless us all
Amen
27th may 2013:st augustine of canterbury osb pray for us.
who is he the patron saint of?
Dear Saint Augustine of Canterbury please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path and for his parents that they find the strenght and wisdom to guide him. Thank you.
GingerPowder smells like this website.
Tell me more about the life of st Augustine
the article was good it gives good insight to me who is trying to learn more about the foundation fo th church and its disemination to Europe and the rest of the world. However i like the comment above am puzzled that the King had married a Christain wife . ahd Christainity found ffting already her or what had been happening> Theres also mention of an old church which one is that... and what is pagan?
It says, "Canterbury was built on the site of an ancient church." Which ancient church? I thought England was pagan until Saint Augustine? The article mentions a pre-existing British Christian tradition, but not in Canterbury.
Is this where the royal Austin family of England originated from? Well a important story of inspiring faith and no doubt a important Saint. Pray the Rosary daily.
thank you for the information, i needed it for a school project. thanx again
Why doesn't it have pictures? And if it does have pictures where is it?