Traditional Catholic Daily Devotional
Saint Augustine of Canterbury was the missionary bishop sent by the Church to bring the Gospel to the Anglo-Saxons of England, laying the foundations for English Christianity after centuries of paganism. He lived in the sixth century and was originally a monk of the monastery of Saint Andrew in Rome, where Pope Gregory the Great served as abbot before becoming pope.
According to tradition, Gregory was deeply moved by the sight of Anglo-Saxon slaves being sold in the Roman marketplace and resolved to send missionaries to England. Augustine was chosen to lead this mission. Though hesitant at first because of the dangers and uncertainty involved, he obeyed and set out with a group of monks for the distant island.
When Augustine arrived in Kent in 597, he encountered King Æthelberht, whose Christian wife, Queen Bertha, had already prepared the way for the missionaries. Augustine approached not with force, but with prayer, preaching, and example. Gradually, the king accepted the faith, and many others followed. Augustine established his seat at Canterbury, which would become the center of English Catholic life for centuries.
As bishop, Augustine worked patiently to build the Church in a land where Christianity had nearly disappeared after earlier invasions. He founded churches, ordained clergy, and established patterns of worship and discipline. He also sought unity with older Celtic Christian communities already present in parts of Britain, though not all differences were easily resolved.
What makes Augustine remarkable is not dramatic martyrdom or theological controversy, but missionary perseverance. He entered an unfamiliar land, learned to guide new converts, and trusted that God would bring growth over time. Through his efforts, the Christian faith began once again to flourish in England.
The Church honors Saint Augustine of Canterbury as the “Apostle of England,” recognizing his role in restoring Christianity to the English people. His work shaped the religious and cultural history of England for generations.
Devotion to him has remained especially strong in Canterbury and among those engaged in missionary work. His feast day on May 28 is marked with prayers for evangelization, Church unity, and perseverance in difficult apostolates.
His example reminds the faithful that missionary work often begins quietly, through patience, courage, and trust in God’s grace.
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, faithful missionary and servant of Christ, pray for us.