Fr. Bruce Riebe reflects on the life of St. Augustine of Hippo, tracing his journey from a life of excess to becoming one of the Church's greatest theologians and doctors, guided by the persistent prayers of his mother, St. Monica. The conversation then turns to the Byzantine Catholic tradition surrounding the Passion of St. John the Baptist, unpacking the remarkable history of the "three findings" of his head across the fourth through ninth centuries. Listeners come away with a deeper appreciation for how human frailty, perseverance, and grace intertwine in the stories of these two pivotal saints.
On this episode of Be Not Afraid, Fr. Bruce Riebe walks through the biography of St. Augustine, born in Thagaste, North Africa, to a pagan father and his devout mother, St. Monica. From his early years of moral struggle and involvement with the Manichaean sect to his conversion under St. Ambrose in Milan, Augustine's story becomes a powerful reminder that sainthood is born out of frail, sinful human beginnings, not despite them. Fr. Bruce and the host also highlight St. Monica's decades of prayer and perseverance as a model for parents who feel discouraged by a child's spiritual struggles.
The second half of the episode shifts to this Saturday's memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, exploring why his martyrdom is commemorated alongside his birth, a distinction shared only with Jesus and Mary. Fr. Bruce details the Byzantine tradition of the three separate "findings" of St. John the Baptist's head, from the fourth-century discovery on the Mount of Olives to its final transfer to Constantinople around the year 850, and explains the custom of avoiding food served on a platter on this feast day.
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