Today
our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend
with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with
Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not
the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even
after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even
though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.
Christ
is now exalted above the heavens, but he still suffers on earth all
the pain that we, the members of his body, have to bear. He showed
this when he cried out from above: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute
me? and when he said: I was hungry and you gave me food.
Why
do we on earth not strive to find rest with him in heaven even now,
through the faith, hope and love that unites us to him? While in
heaven he is also with us; and we while on earth are with him. He is
here with us by his divinity, his power and his love. We cannot be in
heaven, as he is on earth, by divinity, but in him, we can be there
by love.
– Saint
Augustine of Hippo from a sermon
Saint
Augustine of Hippo's
patronage:
against sore eyes; against vermin; brewers; printers; theologians;
diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut; diocese of Ida, Philippines;
diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan; diocese of Laredo, Texas; diocese of
Saint Augustine, Florida; diocese of Superior, Wisconsin; diocese of
Tucson, Arizona; Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Carpineto Romano,
Italy; Isleta Indian Pueblo; Ponte Nizza, Italy; Saint Augustine,
Florida; San Austin, Ibiza, Spain; and Valletta, Malta
