Saint Augustine Quote of the Week
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My book reviews
I read many kinds of books, both fiction and non-fiction, and I review all of them on Goodreads. I have a special interest in books with strong female characters and books that explore spiritual questions. Since this site is dedicated to Saint Augustine and to exploration of religious questions, I’m posting here some links to books I’ve reviewed that cover those topics. I will try to blog all my review of books of this type in the future. I put a short indication of the type of book beside the link to each full review. In putting together this list, I just realized: Wow, I have read a LOT of books that explore religious topics!
Gift of the Jews nonfiction
Gilead fiction
Born To Be Good nonfiction
Why Evolution is True Non fiction(Not really spiritual, but I get so ticked off at fellow Christians who refuse to “believe” in evolution that this book is pretty close to spiritual for me. It’s science. You don’t get to “believe” in it or not.)
Redeeming Love I’m not usually a fan of Christian fiction, but, read as a parable, this is one of the best books I ever read.
The Sin Eater Good Christian fiction
And The Shofar Blew Good Christian fiction
A Voice in the Wind Good Christian fiction, but disturbing in its demonization of homosexuals
The Reason For God non-fiction
Evensong fiction by Gail Godwin (There is another book called Evensong by Kent Haruf, which I have also reviewed)
The Sword Christian fiction
Bonhoffer Excellent biography
Life Management for Busy Women: Living Out God’s Plan with Passion & Purpose Non fiction
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life non fiction
Abide With Me fiction
Caleb’s Crossing fiction
The Alchemist new age fantasy fiction
The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind non fiction
Where Has Oprah Taken Us?: The Religious Influence of the World’s Most Famous Woman non-fiction, great debunking
What Jesus Meant nonfiction, excellent
Martha Bad Christian fiction
Sarah Good Christian fiction
The Book Of Heaven fiction
Testament of Mary fiction
More Precious Than Gold study guide to the psalms
Vita Brevis: A Letter to Saint Augustine fiction
A History of God non-fiction
Treasure of Montsegur fiction
Pope Joan fiction
The Invisible Girls memoir
What We Talk ABout When We Talk About God terrible non-fiction
The Trial of Fallen Angels fiction
This week’s quote is actually a poem…
Not Saint Augustine this week, but a translation of Horace (whose work Augustine would have both learned and taught) by T. A. Noonan. I heard her read it at a poetry reading at Wigle Whiskey hosted by my daughter, Margaret Bashaar.
Although Horace lived and wrote 400 years before Augustine, during the height of the Roman Empire’s power and glory, the poem spoke to me. He writes of a world that was crumbling by the time my book takes place, and, for me, the poem carries in it a whiff or premonition of the decay to come.
Here is the poem:
Saint Augustine quote of the week
“God crowns his own gifts in us.”
This was quoted by our new assistant pastor in his sermon this week. It was a saying of Augustine’s that I hadn’t heard before. I really like it, and will be spending some time this week contemplating what he meant by this. Would be interested in hearing how others interpret this.
Quote of the week
NOT a Saint Augustine quote this week. I have been reading a lot of Mary Gordon short stories lately. Faith appears frequently as a theme in her fiction. Here is a quote I love from one of her characters:
“She said the point of faith wasn’t that it brought certainty, but that it allowed you a place of trust.”
Saint Augustine quote of the week
Saint Augustine quote of the week
“Because God has made us for himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in him.”
This week’s quote is from Saint Ambrose
Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was instrumental in Saint Augustine’s conversion to Christianity. Ambrose was also a close friend and spiritual advisor to Augustine’s mother, Saint Monica. During her time in Milan, Monica was puzzled about some of the differences in Christian practice in Italy compared to her home in North Africa. North African Christians fasted on Saturdays; Italian Christians did not. North African Christians had picnics at the graves of departed loved ones; the Italians frowned on this practice. Monica asked Ambrose which traditions should be followed. His response: “If you are at Rome, live in the Roman style. If you are elsewhere, live as they live there.” This is the origin of the common saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Christian Yogini
I have a good friend who is concerned that my yoga practice is a threat to my Christian faith. I appreciate his concern, and his courage in speaking up, but my own feeling is that my yoga practices enhances my faith.
Yoga isn’t generally considered a religion, but it has its own sacred texts, and it does have shared roots with ancient Hinduism. I do think that if you are serious about staying on a Christian path, it is good to be aware that your yoga practice is rooted in another faith tradition, and to be very mindful and intentional about the impact of your practice on your spiritual state.
Yoga calms my tendency to be tense, rushed and reactive. My twice-daily yoga practice (sometimes it is an hour, sometimes only 5 minutes of sun salutations or pranayama, but ALWAYS twice a day) quiets my mind for prayer and keeps me centered on my intentions on all but the most stressful days (honestly, there are some days that just defeat me).
For me, yoga is also a form of worship. I love living in a body in a physical world. When my yoga practice is going really well, it feels like an offering of joy to the God who Augustine says “sang” the universe into existence. Sometimes I feel that song humming through my own muscles and sinews. Sometimes when I’m outdoors in a beautiful place, I feel moved to strike a yoga pose that expresses my thankfulness for my life in this world. I am very clear on which God I’m thanking, and I don’t think He rejects my offering.