Triduum for the Solemnity of St. Augustine

From Lord Let me Know You: Devotions to St. Augustine of Hippo
By John E. Rotelle, O.S.A.

FIRST DAY - Interiority

Invocation

Do not look to the blossom which is seen
but to the root which is deep in the earth.
St. Augustine, On Johnıs Gospel 8, 9

Reading

St. Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 34, sermon 2, 8

I sought the Lord, and he answered me. Where did the Lord hear? Within. Where does he give reply? Within. There you pray, there you are heard, there you are made happy. You prayer, you were heard, you have been made happy. The man standing near you knows nothing of this, for everything happens in a hidden way, as the Lord indicates in the gospel: Go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees what no man sees, will repay you. Therefore, when you enter your room, you enter your heart. Happy those who delight to enter their hearts and find no evil there. If you want to be glad to enter your own heart, cleanse it: Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God.

Reflection

The reading is followed by a homily or by silent reflection.

Litany

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us.
Mary, Mother of Consolation, pray for us.
Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.
St. Augustine, triumph of divine grace, pray for us.
St. Augustine, faithful to grace, pray for us.
St. Augustine, on fire with love of God, pray for us.
St. Augustine, filled with zeal for Godıs glory, pray for us.
St. Augustine, bright star of the Church, pray for us.
St. Augustine, so great and so humble, pray for us.
St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the faith, pray for us.
St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors, pray for us.
St. Augustine, father of monastic life, pray for us.
St. Monica, devout mother of St. Augustine, pray for us.
St. Monica, whose prayers won Augustine from sin, pray for us.
St. Monica, whose prayers turned Augustine to God, pray for us.
St. Monica, pattern for wives, pray for us.
St. Monica, model of mothers, and mother of saints, pray for us.
St. Monica, exemplar of widows, pray for us.
St. Monica, devoted to prayer, pray for us.
St. Monica, so steadfast in trials, pray for us.
St. Monica, so patient in sorrow, pray for us.
St. Monica, so happy in death, pray for us.
St. Monica, devoted child of Mary, Mother of Consolation, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Leader: Pray for us, St. Augustine
All: That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Leader: Pray for us, St. Monica
All: That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer

God of truth,
desire of all hearts,
we praise you for your love
that touched the heart of Augustine
and awakened in him the quest for your truth.
Attracted by the good things you made,
he learned to seek your face
and to know the joy of your presence.
The name of Christ, echoing from infancy in the depths of his heart,
called him back to your Word,
the teacher who dwells within.
With Augustine we praise the work of your love
and proclaim your action of grace in our lives.
Through the intercession of Augustine
we ask you to hear our prayer:
Here mention your request
Teach us daily to live by his example
so that our restless hearts may find your peace
and our lives may rejoice in your love.

St. Augustine, pray for us.

A closing hymn may be sung

SECOND DAY- Jesus Christ

Invocation

Christ as God is the country
to which we are going
Christ as man is the way by which we go.
St. Augustine, Sermon 123, 3

Reading

St. Augustine, On 1 John 10, 1

We must run and run in the way. If a man runs but not on the path, he runs in vain and wins nothing but woe; the farther he is from the path, the further he goes astray. What is the way on which we are to run? Christ tells us: I am the way! And what is the country to which we run? Christ tells us: I am the way. You run by way of him, you run to him, you rest in him. So that we might run by way of him, he reached out to us, for we were far off in exile.

Reflection

The reading is followed by a homily or by silent reflection.

Litany

If desired, the litany, found on Day 1, may be said or sung.

Prayer

God of truth,
desire of all hearts, we praise you for your love
that touched the heart of Augustine
and awakened in him the quest for your truth.
Attracted by the good things you made,
he learned to seek your face
and to know the joy of your presence.
The name of Christ,
echoing from infancy in the depths of his heart,
called him back to your Word,
the teacher who dwells within.
With Augustine we praise the work of your love
and proclaim your action of grace in our lives.
Through the intercession of Augustine
we ask you to hear our prayer.
Here mention your request
Teach us daily to live by his example
so that our restless hearts may find your peace
and our lives may rejoice in your love.
St. Augustine, pray for us.

A closing hymn may be sung.

THIRD DAY- Ultimate Goal

Invocation

There we shall rest and see,
we shall see and love,
we shall love and praise.
This is what we shall find at the end,
and find it without end.
St. Augustine, City of God, 22, 30, 145

Reading

St. Augustine, Sermon 236, 3

In heaven there will be no hunger or thirst, no nakedness or illness, no exile or toil or pain. I know that these will not be there, but I do not know what will. I know what will be absent there, but what we will find there eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man. During this exile we can love and desire and long for that great good, but we cannot worthily think it or put it into words. At least I cannot. Look, therefore, for someone who can. If you find him, take me with you to his school. This I do know: that he who can do, as the Apostle says, immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, will lead us to where the words of Scripture are fulfilled: Happy they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you. Our whole occupation there will be the praise of God.

Reflection

The reading is followed by a homily or by silent reflection.

Litany

If desired, the litany, found on Day 1, may be said or sung.

Prayer

God of truth,
desire of all hearts,
we praise you for your love
that touched the heart of Augustine
and awakened in him the quest for your truth.
Attracted by the good things you made,
he learned to seek your face
and to know the joy of your presence.
The name of Christ,
echoing from infancy in the depths of his heart,
called him back to your Word,
the teacher who dwells within.
With Augustine we praise the work of your love
and proclaim your action of grace in our lives.
Through the intercession of Augustine
we ask you to hear our prayer:
here mention your request
Teach us daily to live by his example
So that our restless hearts may find your peace
And our lives may rejoice in your love. St. Augustine, pray for us.

A closing hymn may be sung.

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