Ever feel like an outsider or a rookie in your faith? Does it seem like everyone else has a much deeper faith? Not sure if all this is really true? Feel like you have made too many mistakes to still be accepted by the Church? Feel like an outsider? You are not alone. One of the most famous and respected persons in the Catholic Church, St. Augustine, felt the same way. In fact, he was a rebel who lived a very secular life, doubted Christianity, and refused to practice his faith. It took him most of his life before he had a powerful conversion experience that made him realize that Christ had been pursuing him his entire life. Christ never gave up on him. Christ will never give up on you. No matter what you have done, or fail to do. Believe it!

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!
You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.
In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things, which you created.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all.
You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness.
You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness.
You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you.
I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.
You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

The Confessions of St. Augustine

Originally posted 2015-01-07 06:00:33.