St. Monica Wept—and St. Augustine Came Back to Life

About this sermon

What does the Widow of Nain have to do with St. Monica and St. Augustine? In this sermon for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, the Gospel image of a grieving widow whose only son is restored to life becomes a striking parallel to St. Monica, who prayed and wept for the spiritual conversion of her son Augustine. She refused to give up hope. Augustine eventually received the grace of conversion, became a priest and Bishop of Hippo, and emerged as one of the greatest Fathers and Doctors of the Church. His own life became a living testimony to the power and necessity of God’s grace. The sermon also explores Augustine’s Confessions, City of God, and On the Trinity, along with his defense of Catholic doctrine against Donatism and Pelagianism. Against Pelagianism, Augustine insisted that man cannot save himself. We need actual grace and sanctifying grace. Against Donatism, he defended the truth that the efficacy of the sacraments rests ultimately in Christ rather than the personal holiness of the minister. His message remains urgent today: Pray for conversion. Never despair. Never presume. Depend upon grace. If you are praying for a child, spouse, sibling, friend—or for your own deeper conversion—St. Monica and St. Augustine give us tremendous hope. St. Monica and St. Augustine, intercede for us. 0:00 Opening prayer 0:08 15th Sunday after Pentecost & Feast of St. Augustine 0:15 The Widow of Nain as an image of St. Monica 0:32 St. Monica’s tears for Augustine 0:58 Praying for fallen-away family and friends 1:16 Why Augustine remains relevant today 1:32 Augustine’s birth in North Africa 2:13 St. Monica and Augustine’s father 2:29 Augustine goes far astray 2:45 Conversion and baptism of St. Augustine 2:53 Priesthood and Bishop of Hippo 3:17 The sack of Rome in 410 3:39 Augustine writes The City of God 3:57 Augustine at the end of the Roman world 4:05 Augustine’s enormous body of writings 4:29 Confessions, City of God & On the Trinity 4:43 Why Augustine is called the Doctor of Grace 5:07 Misunderstandings of Augustine and grace 5:25 St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine 6:05 The Confessions as spiritual self-examination 6:31 “Our heart is restless until it rests in Thee” 6:49 God is closer to us than we are to ourselves 7:05 Augustine battles the heresies 7:22 The Donatist error 7:43 Christ works through the sacraments 8:04 Pelagianism and the denial of grace 8:21 We absolutely need God’s grace 8:36 Actual grace and sanctifying grace 8:44 The City of God vs. the city of man 9:09 Why Augustine speaks to our own age 9:26 Pray for the conversion of the world 9:35 Pray for your own deeper conversion 9:42 Never despair—and never presume 9:57 St. Monica & St. Augustine, intercede for us 10:04 Closing prayer #StAugustine #StMonica #CatholicHomily #DoctorOfGrace #Confessions #CityOfGod #CatholicFaith #Christianity #CatholicSermon #CatholicSaints For more lease visit http://www.latinmassomaha.org/sermons & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴