A Benedictine Communion of Saints
Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.
Saint Augustine of Canterbury is remembered as the missionary who helped reestablish Christianity in England during the late sixth century. At a time when much of the Anglo-Saxon population practiced pagan traditions, Augustine led a small group of monks sent from Rome to bring the Christian faith to the region. Though the task was uncertain and often difficult, his efforts laid the foundation for the organized Church in England. Through patience, diplomacy, and steady leadership, Augustine became a central figure in the early history of English Christianity.
Augustine was originally a monk in the monastery of St. Andrew’s Monastery, a community founded by the future pope Gregory the Great. Gregory believed that the Anglo-Saxon peoples of Britain should hear the message of Christianity, and he selected Augustine to lead a mission to the distant island. Around the year 597, Augustine and several companions set out for England. The journey itself was challenging, and at one point the group reportedly considered turning back. Gregory encouraged them to continue, and Augustine eventually pressed forward with the mission.
When Augustine arrived in the kingdom of Kent, he encountered a surprisingly favorable situation. The local ruler, Æthelberht of Kent, had married a Christian queen from the Frankish kingdom, which made him more open to the presence of Christian missionaries. Augustine was permitted to preach and establish a small community of monks in the city of Canterbury. Over time, his patient teaching and example led to the baptism of many people, including the king himself according to traditional accounts.
As the mission expanded, Augustine worked to organize the developing Christian community. Churches were restored or newly established, and clergy were trained to serve the growing number of converts. Augustine was eventually consecrated as the first Archbishop of Canterbury, giving formal structure to the Church in England. From this position he sought to coordinate missionary work throughout the region and maintain communication with Rome, ensuring that the young church remained connected to the broader Christian world.
Despite these successes, Augustine’s work also faced challenges. The Christian communities that had survived from earlier Roman Britain sometimes differed in customs and practices from those introduced by the Roman mission. Augustine attempted to build cooperation between these groups, though the process was not always easy. His efforts nevertheless marked an important step toward unifying Christian practice in England.
Saint Augustine of Canterbury died around the year 604, only a few years after the mission had begun. Yet the foundations he established proved remarkably durable. The church structure centered at Canterbury continued to grow and influence the spiritual life of England for centuries. Remembered for his perseverance and humility, Augustine’s life illustrates how a small missionary effort, carried out with patience and faith, can have lasting historical impact.
Let us pray:
Lord our God,
who by the preaching of Saint Augustine of Canterbury
led the English peoples to the Gospel,
grant, we pray, that the fruits of his labors may remain ever abundant in your Church.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
May 27: St. Augustine of Canterbury. Encyclopaedia Britannica, English Heritage, Radio Don Bosco
