Augustine:Bad Boy Turned Saint

One of the very first saints I read upon my return to the Church was Augustine's Confessions. This man truly did it all; today's soap operas and dramas have nothing on him! Thanks in great part to the prayers of his mother, St. Monica, Augustine not only converted but became bishop of Hippo. In addition to the prayers of his mother, St. Ambrose became a teacher and mentor to him as well.
Augustine's Confessions is not an easy read, but a definite "must read" as far as the lives of the saints is concerned.
One of my favorite passages in this book is the fairly well~known, Late Have I Loved Thee passage. In my humble opinion, these are some of the most beautiful words ever written by a repentant sinner.

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

*Note: For a link to Augustine's biography see yesterday's post on St. Monica.