Fr. Bob’s Spiritual Reflection–5/27/2026
“Don’t turn back…keep going.”
Today is the feast day of St. Augustine of Canterbury. Augustine was a monk and prior of St. Andrew’s monastery in Rome.
His knowledge of Scripture was well known and he became a great preacher. Because of these gifts, Pope Gregory the Great asked him and several other monks to travel to England to begin a mission of conversion of the pagan Anglo-Saxons.
As the journey began, Augustine decided to turn back because of a fear of violent Anglo-Saxons and also a fear of the treacherous English Channel. Pope Gregory urged him not to worry and that they would be able to overcome the dangers.
So, Augustine and the monks began their mission in Kent and in the process, Augustine converted the King. This not only was a sign for the nation but it guaranteed the missionaries freedom from any harm.
Augustine eventually became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. One of the monks, Lawrence, who accompanied Augustine on the original mission became his successor.
We just celebrated Memorial Day honoring the men and women who gave their lives for our country in all of its wars and I’m sure they also followed the motto of “Don’t turn back, keep going.” It seems to work!