Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Opening Prayer

Eternal Lover, Passionate God, on this day, Zelie Guerin Martin, St. Therese’s Mom died, while Therese was only 4 years old. As Therese was plunged into darkness and abandonment, so too I sometimes feel alone and abandoned, and wallow in darkness which blocks my heart and prevents me from receiving Your passionate love. Like St. Augustine, I am slow to learn, but my restless heart resonates with Your eternally passionate Heart. Keep me awake and alert to Your presence in my life. Clear the paths and detours, so that my journey is straight into Your love. InSpirit me, Lord, that I may pray with Augustine: “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new; late have I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you, they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.” (from the Confessions of St. Augustine).

Young Therese, Zelie Guerin Martin, your Mom, died on this day in 1877.  You were only 4 years old and devastated.  But instead of simply collapsing in self-pity, you sought out Pauline to be your mother.  You believed that God would always provide the maternal nourishment and intimacy you desired.  Eventually, you turn to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Our Lady of Mount Carmel to be your mother.  Teach us never to give up the search when others are no longer present to us.  Give us your trust that God always provides.