Sarah Park McLaughlin on “Praying with St. Augustine”
Sarah Park-McLaughlin and Kris McGregor centers on McLaughlin’s book Praying with St. Augustine, a collection of the saint’s prayers drawn from his sermons and writings. McLaughlin shares how she began gathering these prayers decades ago after being moved by hearing them at a retreat. Despite initial rejections from publishers, she felt guided to persevere, and Sophia Institute Press eventually published the collection. St. Augustine’s prayers are timeless, personal, and deeply moving, often combining Scripture with heartfelt cries for mercy, praise, and understanding. McLaughlin highlights how Augustine’s humility and honesty about his struggles make him relatable, not a distant “plaster saint.”
The book explores St. Augustine’s life and impact: his conversion through the prayers of his mother, St. Monica; his role as bishop in North Africa; his defense of the faith against heresies; and his enduring influence on the Church through writings like The City of God and Confessions. McLaughlin notes that his prayers are varied—ranging from praise to petition to meditations on divine mysteries—and can serve as guides for anyone seeking a deeper prayer life. She stresses that the book is both devotional and instructional, accessible to those new to Augustine as well as lifelong students of his work, offering prayers that draw us into a more intimate relationship with God.
You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

* How do St. Augustine’s struggles and conversion story invite me to see God’s mercy at work in my own life?
* In what ways can I make Augustine’s heartfelt prayers part of my personal prayer routine?
* How do Augustine’s prayers of praise challenge me to go beyond petitions and simply glorify God?
* What role does humility play in my conversations with God, as it did for Augustine?
* How can St. Monica’s perseverance in prayer encourage me to keep interceding for loved ones who are far from the faith?
* Which of Augustine’s images of God—such as “banquet of love” or “ancient yet new beauty”—most stirs my heart to prayer?
* How does Augustine’s openness about weakness inspire me to be honest with God about my own struggles?
* What does Augustine’s integration of Scripture into his prayers teach me about praying with the Word of God?
* How might Augustine’s prayers of petition help me to recognize my dependence on God each day?
* In what ways can Augustine’s example guide me to deepen both my knowledge of God and my love for Him?



From the book description
“For years, there have been no books of St. Augustine’s prayers available. Finally, in this treasure trove, you will find select prayers from his works — some of the most potent prayers ever composed. As you read the innermost thoughts of the greatest Church Father, you will be transported in time and learn how to pray with the heart of a saint. St. Augustine’s timeless words will help you encounter the “Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new” face-to-face and experience the relationship between praying and believing.
As Dr. Kreeft explains, “No Christian writer, perhaps no writer at all, has ever been as eloquent as St. Augustine. Few have been as philosophically and theologically profound, or as passionately in love with God…. No passages in Augustine’s writings are more eloquent than his prayers, or more profound than his prayers, or more saintly than his prayers, for prayer is the very lifeblood of sanctity.”
These precious gems are uplifting and accessible to all. Covering a range of topics and styles,