Praise and honor be yours, O Fountain of Mercy!

What dangers threatened my soul when it rashly hoped that by abandoning you it would find something better! Whichever way it turned, on front or back or sides, it lay on a bed that was hard, for in you alone the soul can rest. You are there to free us from the misery of error which leads us astray, to set us on your own path and to comfort us by saying, ‘Run on for I shall hold you up. I shall lead you and carry you on to the end.’ (end of book VI, Confessions)

In [the books of the Platonists] no one sings No rest has my soul but in God’s hands; to him I look for deliverance. … In them no one listens to the voice which says Come to me all you that labour. They disdain his teaching because he is gentle and humble of heart. For you have hidden all this from the wise and revealed it to little children.

It is one thing to descry the land of peace from a wooded hilltop and, unable to find the way to it, struggle on through trackless wastes where traitors and runaways, captained by their prince, who is lion and serpent in one, lie in wait to attack. It is another thing to follow the high road to that land of peace, the way that is defended by the care of the heavenly Commander. Here there are no deserters from heaven’s army to prey upon the traveller, because they shun this road as a torment. (end of book VII, Confessions)

My God, let me be thankful as I remember and acknowledge all your mercies. Let my whole self be steeped in love of you and all my being cry Lord, there is none like you. You have broken the chains that bound me; I will sacrifice in your honor. I shall tell how it was that you broken them and, when they hear what I have to tell, all who adore you will exclaim. “Blessed be the Lord in heaven and on earth. Great and wonderful is hhis name.” (begin Book VIII, Confessions)

My favorite quote from the Confessions of Saint Augustine. Also my favorite translation by R. S. Pine-Coffin, published as a Penguin Classic. 1961.

I read something which outraged me and needed this as a restorative.

I also have three unfinished essays on three completely different topics and I need to go be “Amma” which is short for Grandmother — more or less. ; )