Category Archives: Patristiblogging

Formerly NAPLAM – For Patristibloggers – blog posts concerning the Fathers of the Church

Augustine’s Bones – where are they now?

Augustine died on 28 August 430. His friend and biographer Possidius describes his last days during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals. Sometime before the early 8th century, Augustine’s remains were translated from N. Africa to Sardinia for fear … Read More

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Augustine is ordained

Many bloggers and certainly patristibloggers will be posting today about St. Augustine. Rather than relate the same old stuff you already know, you might be interested in other less known episodes from the life of this titanic figure who so … Read More

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Monica’s tomb in Sant’Agostino in Rome

This is the chapel in the church of St. Augustine in Rome (literally across the street from my back door) on the day when the bones of St. Augustine were brought from their resting place in Pavia to Rome. For … Read More

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Monica: an influence on the doctrine of Original sin?

Turning again to Serge Lancel’s excellent Augustine, the best biography I know of the great Bishop of Hippo (p. 11 ff) we can get a view of Monica and her son and their relationship (my emphasis): In the course of … Read More

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St. Monica: avoided alcoholism

From Serge Lancel’s Augustine, the best biography I know of the great Bishop of Hippo (p. 8 ff): Before devoting himself entirely to Mother Church, as he approached the age of forty, Augustine had had a concubine for about fifteen … Read More

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Holy Father’s Angelus on St. Monica and St. Augustine

During today’s Angelus at Castel Gandolofo, the Holy Father spoke about St. Monica and St. Augustine. Pope Benedict is a deeper learner about the Fathers and he is sharing wonderful insights with us now. You can hear the enthusiasm in his voice, even though he stubles in his text once. I think he might have inserted a parenthetical.

Benedict XVI referred to Monica as an example of encouragment to parents who are suffering from watching their children stray on the wrongs paths. Augustine was a long seeker after the truth, even from his youth.

Download the mp3 of his address. I don’t know how long this address will be valid. Probably one week. Read More

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St. Melchisedech, Old Testament king and priest

Reverently opening your copy of the Roman Martyrology you find in the first entry for today 1. Commemoratio sancti Melchisedech, regis Salem et sacerdotis Dei altissimi, qui Abraham benedicens salutavit a victoria regressum, Domino sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam, offerens, atque … Read More

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Ambrose on Nathanael/Bartholomew

St. Ambrose has something to say about St. Bartholomew as well.  In his work De Isaac vel anima 8.73 he makes use of the Canticle of Canticles and brings in Nathaniel with his fig tree.  Remember, Nathaniel and Bartholomew are … Read More

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24 Aug: Bartholomew, Apostle

I have an affection for today’s saint not only for the way in which he died (a way of being treated familiar to many priests of more traditional leaning) but also because my first ecclesiastical office was as rector of … Read More

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Gregory the Great on today’s Gospel

St. Pope Gregory I, "the Great", has a word for us about the Gospel passage for today’s Mass (Forty Gospel Homilies, 19,5 – PL 76:1157; CS 123:82 (Homily 11): But what follows after this is dreadful.  For many are called, … Read More

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