Province of St. Augustine in California

04/16/2026

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04/12/2026

🌊 Divine Mercy Sunday: The Journey Home to the Heart 🌊

On this beautiful feast, we are invited to trust deeply in the mercy of Jesus—a love that meets us in our restlessness and calls us into the peace of His presence.

As an Augustinian saint, Thomas of Villanova lived the core value of Interiority: the belief that we find God not by looking outside ourselves, but by entering the "inner room" of the heart. As Saint Augustine famously wrote:

“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new... You were within me, and I was outside; and it was there that I searched for you.” ✨

When we practice interiority, we find the space to surrender our fears and ego. Following the example of St. Thomas, the "Father of the Poor," we pray these words of unmeasured love:

“I will love you, Lord, in every way… You set no limits to what you have done for me… I will not measure out my love.”

Divine Mercy reminds us that when we stop running and return to our hearts, we find a God whose mercy has been waiting for us all along. Following the Augustinian charism of Community, let’s share that same "unmeasured" compassion with one another today.

Jesus, I trust in You. 🙏

04/05/2026

✨ Wishing you a Joyous and Blessed Easter! ✨

Today we celebrate the greatest fulfillment in history:
Resurrexit sicut dixit! He has risen, just as He said!

On this sacred day, our hearts turn to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of the empty tomb. From that cold stone, a message has echoed across centuries: light overcomes darkness, and grace makes all things new.
But Easter isn't just a historical event to remember; it is a spiritual reality to live.

To bridge the gap between the empty tomb and our daily lives, we turn to Augustine’s beautiful Prayer to the Holy Spirit. Just as the Spirit breathed life into the tomb on that first Easter morning, we ask Him to breathe life into us today:

Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine:
“Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.”

Easter is the divine invitation to move from death to life. May the Risen Christ fill your heart with peace, and may the Holy Spirit empower you to walk in the joy of the Resurrection! 🌿✝️
Hallelujah, surrexit Dominus!

04/04/2026

"Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in You." — St. Augustine ✝️

On this Good Friday, we look to the Cross and see the ultimate answer to our restlessness. Saint Augustine reminded us that the Cross is not just a sign of suffering, but a "medicine for salvation."

Jesus didn't just endure the wood and the nails; He surrendered His entire will to the Father, turning a moment of death into the source of our life.

This is the heart of the Augustinian Charism: seeking Truth and Unity by centering our lives on the sacrifice of Christ.

When our own lives feel heavy or "restless," we are invited to enter into that same surrender. We can stop trying to solve every problem with our own limited strength and instead place our trust in His infinite mercy.

Today, let’s pray the words of the Surrender Novena:
"O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything."

Let your heart find its rest at the foot of the Cross today. 🙏✨

03/20/2026

Feast of St. Joseph – March 19 ✨

St. Joseph, pray for us. 🙏

O faithful Saint Joseph, silent guardian of the Word made flesh, you obeyed the call of God in the stillness of night and safeguarded the Holy Family with unwavering trust. Chosen protector of Jesus and Mary, you are also our protector in the Augustinian path of community and grace.

As you once rose in faith to lead your family through danger into safety, guide us now in our journey of one mind and one heart toward God. Shelter our homes, our hearts, and our communities from harm, and help us to listen with courage to the voice of God in our midst.

Noble St. Joseph, servant of God’s plan and protector of the Augustinian Family, intercede for us who seek to follow Christ in unity and love. May your quiet strength inspire us to serve humbly, to live faithfully, and to protect one another in charity. Be near to those in distress, especially when fear or uncertainty clouds the way.

Through your powerful intercession, may our Augustinian family grow in peace, fidelity, and holiness, until we rest in the eternal communion prepared for us by the Father. Amen.

St. Joseph, protector of the Augustinian Order, pray for us. 🙏

Message us for a St. Joseph Prayer Card. 

03/19/2026

03/18/2026

"One Mind and One Heart" 🕊️

We are filled with gratitude as the Sisters of Nazareth are formally aggregated into the global Augustinian Family!
Rooted in the teachings of our holy father Saint Augustine, this official union strengthens our shared call to seek God together in community and service.

As we celebrated recently at St. Augustine’s High School in San Diego, we rejoiced in this "profound spiritual communion" that unites our brothers and sisters in a lasting bond of grace.

Please join us in prayer to Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, that this new chapter may bear abundant fruit for the Church.

03/09/2026

✨ A Truly Blessed Lenten Retreat ✨

"To spend much time in prayer is to knock with a persistent and holy fervor at the door of the one whom we beseech."
-St. Augustine

What a powerful time of reflection and renewal we shared at Good Shepherd Catholic Church! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our parish retreat led by Fr. Dominic. 🌿

Through Fr. Dominic’s guidance, we dove deep into:
💀 Memento Mori – A sobering and beautiful reminder to live each day with eternity in mind.
🙏 Sanctifying Grace – Rediscovering the gift of God’s own life dwelling within us.

It was a joy to see so many parishioners step away from the noise to "knock at the door" of our Lord together. We hope these graces continue to bear fruit in your hearts as we journey toward the Resurrection.

📸 from our time together!

02/28/2026

Yesterday we explored language. Today St. Augustine explores the defects in his early education and how it may have led him toward a life of indulgence. He theories that his education directed him solely toward career goals and negated character development. How do you view your early education? Were you taught morals and character?

Late to the journey? Don't worry about it. It's never too late. The yoke is easy and the burden is light - less than ten minutes a day to get informed - friendly - on-demand nourishment for your forty days of Lent. Sign up, it's free!

www.sanctifyinggrace.org
www.sanctifyinggrace.org/blog/day9

02/28/2026

"Every year, on the second Sunday of Lent, we recount the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop. We hear that Jesus 'takes leave of' the busy and demanding activity of his ministry and steps away to devote time to prayer. Accompanied by three disciples, Peter, James, and John (I would suggest they represent dimensions of who we are as followers of Jesus), Jesus is 'transfigured' while in the presence of Moses and Elijah."

Read this week's homily at https://augustinian.org/second-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2/