Friday, March 29, 2019
St. Augustine,354-430 AD, theologian and bishop of Hippo, north Africa, is considered one of the most notable Church Fathers in Western Christianity; yes, even in Anglican thought! He was a ‘man of the world’, in every context one might apply to that phrase! Among his most important writings are The City of God, De doctrina Christiana and Confessions. The following is from the latter:
Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new,
late have I loved you!
You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that 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 have not 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.