Feast of St. Augustine

“O Lord my God, tell me what you are to me. Say to my soul, I am your salvation. Say it so that I can hear it. My heart is listening, Lord; open the ears of my heard and say to my soul, I am your salvation. Let me run toward this voice and seize hold of you. Do not hide your face from me: let me die so that I may see it, for not to see it would be death to me indeed.” 

― St. Augustine, "Confessions"

Sirach 26

1Happy the husband of a good wife;

the number of his days will be doubled.

2A loyal wife brings joy to her husband,

and he will finish his years in peace.

3A good wife is a generous gift

bestowed upon him who fears the Lord.

4Whether rich or poor, his heart is content,

a smile ever on his face.

5There are three things I dread,

and a fourth which terrifies me:

Public slander, the gathering of a mob,

and false accusation—all harder to bear than death.

6A wife jealous of another wife is heartache and mourning;

everyone feels the lash of her tongue.

7A wicked wife is a chafing yoke;

taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.

8A drunken wife arouses great anger,

for she does not hide her shame.

9By her haughty stare and her eyelids

an unchaste wife can be recognized.

10Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife,

lest, finding an opportunity, she use it;

11Watch out for her impudent eye,

and do not be surprised if she betrays you:

12As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth

and drinks from any water nearby,

So she sits down before every tent peg

and opens her quiver for every arrow.

13A gracious wife delights her husband;

her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones.

14A silent wife is a gift from the Lord;

nothing is worth more than her self-discipline.

15A modest wife is a supreme blessing;

no scales can weigh the worth of her chastity.

16The sun rising in the Lord’s heavens—

the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.

17The light which shines above the holy lampstand—

a beautiful face on a stately figure.

18Golden columns on silver bases—

so her shapely legs and steady feet.^†

What the Woman May Have Prayed...

And now, our only provider and cause of all good things,
listen with compassion, Lord
to the supplications I call to you,
with my arms lifted in prayer,
bolstered from within,
with the sighs of my heart,
with the cries of my tongue and lips.
Expressing thanks through these offerings,
I offer up my gratitude to you,
almighty, awesome, exalted, incomprehensible, forever embraced in unending love,
constantly praised with the chant,
Holy, Holy, only and always Holy,
Blessed forever

Out of your great goodness,
grant me yet more help,
for I am completely lost.
Give me hope of sweetness,
though I am not worthy of the least drop of your light,
so that I might understand through you, good Lord,
the subtle secret of this mystery,
and mix thanks with my prayers,
saying with David,
"We have received your mercy, Lord,"
and "your hidden and invisible secrets,"
you have revealed through your wisdom."


This could not come to me at a better time in this moment of my life.....longing for Baby 'Opia!  Throwing my arms up and asking for help!