Pope Leo XIV sent a special message to his fellow Augustinians from the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Pennsylvania on Aug. 28, the feast of St. Augustine, providing insights on how to emulate their spiritual father.
In a video message, the Pontiff called it “an honor held dearly” to be an Augustinian and said, “So much of who I am I owe to the spirit and the teachings of Saint Augustine.”
“I am grateful to all of you for all the many ways your lives exhibit a deep commitment to the values of veritas, unitas, caritas,” he added, referring to the Augustinian principles of truth, unity, and love.
Pope Leo reminded the Augustinians that St. Augustine’s talents for leadership and spiritual direction were placed at the service of God after a life “full of much trial and error.” He said that St. Augustine’s example shows that “we all have God given gifts and talents, and our purpose, fulfilment and joy comes from offering them back in loving service to God and our neighbor.”
The Pope also acknowledged Augustinian missionaries who traveled to the US as missionaries in the late 1700s, encouraging the Augustinians to follow their examples too and answer the call “to carry on this legacy of loving service to all of God’s people.”
“Jesus reminds us in the Gospel to love our neighbor, and this challenges us now more than ever to remember to see our neighbors today with the eyes of Christ: that all of us are created in the image and likeness of God,” Pope Leo said. “Through friendship, relationship, dialogue and respect for one another, we can see past our differences and discover our true identity as sisters and brothers in Christ.”
He also encouraged listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and listening to each other and to the poor and marginalized. He emphasized St. Augustine’s exhortation, “Do not have your heart in your ears, but your ears in your heart,” and reminded the Augustinians that God’s voice is heard within the heart.
“What do we need to do in order to practice how to listen with the ears of our heart?” Pope Leo asked. He later answered, “As a community of faith, striving to build a relationship with the Lord, may we strive to filter the noise [of the world], the divisive voices in our heads and hearts, and open ourselves up to the daily invitations to get to know God and God’s love better. When we hear that loving, reassuring voice of the Lord, we can share it with the world as we strive to become one in him.”
Pope Leo concluded by asking for prayers and assuring the Augustinians of his prayers for them.
His message also included an acceptance of the Saint Augustine Medal from the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. According to Father Robert Hagan, prior provincial of the province, the medal was awarded for Pope Leo’s service leadership, lifelong commitment to the poor, witness to the Augustinian values, and example as the Pope.
Pope Leo responded with gratitude, recalling their common experience studying at Villanova.
“It is great to know that community is still very much a part of our lives,” he said. “Thank you for this award and God bless you and all of your people.”
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Author: Hannah Hiester
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