Words of Light and Hope from Tony Foottit

Words of Light and Hope from Tony Foottit.

Monkshood – Augustine of Hippo – 28th August.

Monkshood is a rare flower in the wild but common enough in gardens. Each flower is a miniature monk’s hood. A teacher’s academic gown and hood are derived from the monastic habit. St. Augustine of Hippo was a wild and passionate man, but was converted through the love and prayers of his mother Monica. One day an unseen voice in the garden urged him to take up and read a book lying on the table. It was open at Romans 13.14: Put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the body to gratify its       desires. He was so moved by this message that he was baptised and        ordained and although not a professed monk, he was eventually chosen as Bishop of Hippo in Algeria. He was a precursor of African Christianity, of which Trevor Huddleston, Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela have been such fine recent heroes. Augustine was one of the great teachers of the early Church, and wrote over 100 books. His autobiographical Confessions, and his visionary City of God, have continued to be a considerable influence since his death on 28th August 430. We can certainly empathise with this great scholar when he complained about the soaring price of oil for his lamps!…… Although few teachers wear monastic gown and hood these days, their profession plays a vital role in society.  (From A Calendar of Wild Flowers.)

Merciful Lord, who turned Augustine from his sins,                                                                                                                                                                    to be a faithful bishop and teacher:                                                                                                                                                                                                  grant that we may follow him in penitence and discipline,                                                                                                                                                      till our restless hearts find their rest in you;                                                                                                                                                                     through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,                                                                                                                                                                                    who is alive and reigns with you,                                                                                                                                                                                                    in the unity of the Holy Spirit,                                                                                                                                                                                                      one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Common Worship.)