Confessions - Book Iii - Chapter XI
St. Augustine reflects on God's mercy and the power of intercessory prayer, highlighting how divine grace can rescue a soul from spiritual darkness through faith and persistent prayer.
In this devotional sermon, St. Augustine recounts the profound mercy of God in rescuing him from spiritual darkness through the persistent prayers of his mother. He reflects on the power of intercessory prayer, divine visions, and the transformative grace that brings a soul back to life. This passage offers a heartfelt meditation on faith, hope, and the attentive love of God toward those who seek Him.
Text
19. And now thou didst \"stretch forth thy hand from above\"[80] and didst draw up my soul out of that profound darkness [of Manicheism] because my mother, thy faithful one, wept to thee on my behalf more than mothers are accustomed to weep for the bodily deaths of their children. For by the light of the faith and spirit which she received from thee, she saw that I was dead. And thou didst hear her, O Lord, thou didst hear her and despised not her tears when, pouring down, they watered the earth under her eyes in every place where she prayed. Thou didst truly hear her.
For what other source was there for that dream by which thou didst console her, so that she permitted me to live with her, to have my meals in the same house at the table which she had begun to avoid, even while she hated and detested the blasphemies of my error? In her dream she saw herself standing on a sort of wooden rule, and saw a bright youth approaching her, joyous and smiling at her, while she was grieving and bowed down with sorrow. But when he inquired of her the cause of her sorrow and daily weeping (not to learn from her, but to teach her, as is customary in visions), and when she answered that it was my soul\\
Sermon Outline
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I
- The darkness of Manicheism as a spiritual state
- The role of Augustine's mother in interceding through prayer
- God's attentive hearing of faithful tears
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II
- The significance of the consoling dream
- God's communication through visions
- The restoration of hope and life through divine intervention
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III
- The power of faith and spirit received from God
- The transformation from spiritual death to life
- The importance of persistent prayer and trust in God
Key Quotes
“And now thou didst "stretch forth thy hand from above" and didst draw up my soul out of that profound darkness.” — St. Augustine
“Thou didst truly hear her.” — St. Augustine
“For by the light of the faith and spirit which she received from thee, she saw that I was dead.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Trust in the power of prayer, especially the prayers of those who love you.
- Remain hopeful and open to God's ways of communicating, even through dreams or visions.
- Recognize that no spiritual darkness is beyond God's redeeming grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who interceded for Augustine in this passage?
Augustine's mother prayed fervently on his behalf, and God heard her tears and prayers.
What does the dream symbolize?
The dream symbolizes God's consolation and assurance, encouraging Augustine's mother to continue hope and prayer.
What spiritual condition was Augustine in before his conversion?
He was in profound darkness, influenced by the errors of Manicheism.
How does Augustine describe God's response to prayer?
God does not despise the tears of the faithful but hears and responds to their prayers.