St Augustine
Day August 28
Augustine, bishop , servant of Christ and servants of Christ, Proba, pious servant of God, salvation in the Lord of lords
Proba, nicknamed Faltonia, Anicia of people, was the widow of Probus, prefect of the Eternal City ( Rome), consul in 371. Three of their son became consul in turn. After the capture of Rome by the Goths (410), Proba and fled to Africa as many Romans.
Desolation before the consolation
5. Therefore, within the shadows of this life when we walk away from the Lord, as long our guide for faith and not sight ( cf 2 Cor 5:6-7), the Christian soul should count themselves abandoned lest it cease to pray. She must learn to fix the eye of faith on Scripture and divine "like a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, " 2 P 1.19. Because of this lamp stems as a source ineffable light that shines in the darkness without the darkness can understand, and which is seen as hearts purified by faith. "Blessed Indeed, those who are pure in heart for they shall see God " 5.8 Mt. And "we know that when it will occur, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is," 1 John 3.2. Then the true life and death succeed to the true consolation in desolation. This life " will free our soul from death," the consolation "dry up the tears from our eyes," and because there will be more temptation then, the psalmist says, "it will preserve our feet the fall, " Ps 114.8. Or if no more temptation, there will be more prayer, we will not have to wait much promised but to contemplate the well received. So the psalmist says: "I shall please the Lord in the land of the living, Ps 114.9 where we will be not in the desert of the dead where we are now. "For you are dead" Apostle says, " and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, He is your glory, then you also will appear with him in glory, "Col. 3.3 to 4. That this true life that the rich must search to seize by their good works. There is also the true consolation. Without it remains a widow in distress, even if she has children and grandchildren, she governs her house piously, and seeks to get all his friends that they put their hope in God; I hear the widow said, however, in his prayer: "My soul thirsts for you, after you my flesh itself languished in this desert land without water and impassable," Ps 62.2, that our life is always close to extinction, whatever the momentary consolation that we can find, what that there are those who walk with us, regardless of the abundance of goods which we may be filled. Cause you know how these things are uncertain. And they were free of uncertainty, what would they compare to the bliss that is promised us?
6. I speak as well, rich and noble widow, mother of a large family, you asked me my thoughts on how to pray, so that despite those around you and you remain in their care in this life, you consider yourself to be abandoned, as you will not come to this life where the true solace and certainty. Here at last fulfilled the words of the prophecy: "We were filled up early with thy mercy, we spent all our days in happiness and joy. On days when we were in humiliation, in years when we had the misfortune you've visited us joy, "Ps 89.15.
excerpt from St. Augustine's letter to Proba on prayer request and the Our Father
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