Fr Richard's words for the Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury
Being sent
In my first year in Rome (2011-12), I was very lucky to
altar-serve for Pope Benedict XVI. The occasion was Vespers (Evening Prayer)
and Dr Rowan Williams, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, was in attendance.
It took place at the Church of San Gregorio over at the far side of the Circus
Maximus. It was from the Benedictine monastery on this site where Saint Augustine,
who was the prior, was sent along with his 40 monks by Pope Gregory the Great
in 597 to the British Isles to convert the “Angles”.
To be “sent”: In today’s Gospel, the Lord appoints 72 disciples
and sends them out to evangelise the towns and villages. Today’s Responsorial
Psalm declares: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.” By virtue
of our baptism, we also are “sent” by God into the world to live the Gospel and
proclaim Christ’s Kingdom with joy.
When the evangelisers reached France, scary stories were circulating
about the barbarity of the Angles! They were fearful, and sent Augustine back
to Rome to report to the Pope. Gregory was much more optimistic about the
openness of the English to the faith and sent them on their way again.
The mission of proclaiming the Gospel can be daunting at
times. But, encouraged by the Pope, Augustine and his companions were reminded
to be at peace and to trust in the Lord. Thanks to Augustine’s evangelising
mission, the Christian faith was brought to our islands and many turned to the
Lord.
In the daily response to our “being sent”, it’s our interior
life of closeness with the Lord which will inspire our exterior works of spreading
the faith. If, like Saint Augustine, we come close to the Lord in prayer, He
will give us the courage to proclaim His Kingdom to the people of our time.
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