Catholic Men An August faith

Aug 3, 2011

Most of us live August as a noun. It arrives as the eighth month every year with 31 days seemingly hotter and more humid. But look up “august” in a dictionary and you also will find it is an adjective. August, when defined in this way, means both “inspiring awe and reverence” and “worthy of respect because of age and dignity.” Such a linguistic discovery presents us with an opportunity in the weeks ahead.

By recalling the accomplishments of some of the saints the Church memorializes this month, as well as affirming the special role played by the Blessed Virgin Mary in our faith, we can choose to live this month as an adjective and noun.

We can commit to living an august faith starting this August.

The Church this month will celebrate men and women canonized for their work as prolific authors, prominent preachers of the Gospel, and founders of orders that still serve us today.

St. Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles, journeyed as far as India to preach the Gospel (Aug. 24). St. Lawrence had a promising life ahead of him as a deacon, but that didn’t stop him from dying a young martyr in 258 AD (Aug. 10). St. Monica prayed fervently to God for the conversion of her son in the first century (Aug. 27). The Church eventually recognized that very son who had fallen away from the faith – St. Augustine – as one of its doctors. St. Bernard influenced the course of 12th century Europe not as pope, but as abbot of Clairvaux Abbey (Aug. 20). Even a simple parish priest, St. John Vianney, made the ordinary extraordinary when he heard confessions about 16 hours each day (Aug. 4).  Ageless models of faith, these saints can inspire us to achieve awesome and reverent works for God in our own daily lives.

Appropriately, August is also a month which sustains the ageless and dignified reverence among Catholics for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The faithful will celebrate both the Solemnity of the Assumption (Aug. 15) as well as the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 22) in the weeks ahead. Pope Pius XII declared as dogmatic truth on Nov. 1, 1950, that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven. He also later observed in his 1954 encyclical, "Ad Caeli Regina," how the Church has believed for centuries – a belief based both on Scripture and tradition – in the heavenly coronation of Mary. The pontiff proclaimed how the Blessed Virgin “cooperated toward our redemption by giving of her own substance, by offering Him willingly for us, and by desiring, praying for, and bringing about our salvation in a singular manner.” Men of all ages, in all times, who have sought to live as men of God respect Our Lady as a loving source of refuge, comfort, and hope.  

The August saints, led by Our Lady as their heavenly Queen, witnessed to the faith uniquely in their lives. They all remind us that the same Holy Spirit which animated their earthly works with wisdom, courage, and stamina can inspire us to accomplish incredible works in our families, workplaces, and communities. But we must first let the Spirit work. Pray this August to begin to live your faith in an august way.