Augustine Day by Day - June 13

Scattered about the entire earth, your mother the Church is tormented by the assaults of error. She is also afflicted by the laziness and indifference of so many of the children she carries around in her bosom as well as by the sight of so many of her members growing cold, while she becomes less able to help her little ones.

Who then will give her the necessary help she cries for if not other children and other members to whose number you belong?

-- Letter 243, 8

Prayer. O Lord my God, pay heed to my prayer. Look with mercy on my desire, which is not concerned with myself alone but with my neighbor's good as well.

-- Confessions 11, 2

June 13

Incidentally, Augustine wrote Letter 243 (no, he didn't name it that at the time, hahaha) to a friend named Laetus. Laetus had recently entered the vowed (religious/ monastic) life and his mother, also a Christian, was urging him to abandon this path. Augustine counters by encouraging Laetus to stand firm and give up his life in the deepest way he can, since his true Mother, the Church, is in great need of radically faithful sons. (Thanks to Anthony Wales for this additional information.)