杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

To mark the Solemnity of Saint Augustine, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV sent a video message to the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, in the United States, expressing his gratitude for the conferral of the Saint Augustine Medal.

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 recalled with affection that the local parish is dedicated to Saint Thomas of Villanova, the Augustinian friar and bishop remembered as 鈥渇ather of the poor.鈥�

鈥淭o be recognised as an Augustinian,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s an honour held dearly. 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 the many ways your lives exhibit a deep commitment to the values of veritas, unitas, caritas.鈥�

Reflecting on the saint鈥檚 life, 杏MAP导航 Leo noted that Augustine鈥檚 journey 鈥渨as full of trial and error, like our own lives.鈥� Yet through grace, the prayers of his mother Monica, and the witness of the community around him, he discovered 鈥渢he way to peace for his restless heart.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 underlined that Augustine鈥檚 witness calls every Christian to recognize their God-given gifts and to offer them 鈥渋n loving service to God and to our neighbour.鈥�

A long legacy of loving service

He then turned to the Augustinian presence in Philadelphia, home to one of the oldest Catholic communities in the United States, recalling the missionary zeal of Fathers Matthew Carr and John Rossiter in serving immigrants at the end of the 18th century. That same spirit, he said, 鈥渃alls us today to carry on a legacy of loving service.鈥�

鈥淛esus reminds us in the Gospel to love our neighbour,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 stressed, urging all to look at one another with the eyes of Christ and to rediscover our identity 鈥渁s sisters and brothers in Him.鈥�

Quoting then Augustine鈥檚 words鈥�"Do not have your heart in your ears, but your ears in your heart"鈥攖he 杏MAP导航 invited the Augustinian family to embrace a spirit of listening. 鈥淏efore we speak, we must listen,鈥� he said, adding that in a synodal Church, the call is to listen to the Holy Spirit, to one another, and especially to the voices of the poor.

He encouraged all to filter out the noise and division of the world in order to hear God鈥檚 loving voice, which alone can bring peace. 鈥淲hen we hear that reassuring voice,鈥� he said, 鈥渨e can share it with the world as we strive to become one in Him.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Leo concluded by entrusting the Augustinian family to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, praying that 鈥淕od bless you all and bring peace to your restless hearts, and help you continue to build a community of love, one in mind and heart, intent upon God.鈥�