The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine Is The Oldest Catholic Parish In The Country
Last week, we discussed St. Monica, her Feast Day, and the best place to venerate this great saint, and this week, we are paying homage to her son.
Known as one of the most profound thinkers and writers in the history of Christianity, St. Augustine's journey from a life of dissipation to becoming a bishop and an intellectual figure is a story of remarkable transformation powered by faith and grace.
Born in 354 in present-day Algeria, Augustine lived a hedonistic lifestyle in his youth, much to the distress of his devout mother, St. Monica. However, his eventual conversion, prompted by his mother's prayers and his own search for truth, led him to embrace Christianity and be baptized in 387. His works, including "Confessions" and "The City of God," continue to influence Christian theology and Western philosophy.
In honor of this Doctor of the Church and beloved Saint's Feast Day on August 28th, we are taking a virtual pilgrimage to this historical American cathedral:
Welcome to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, AKA the oldest Christian congregation in the country.
Aptly located in St. Augustine, Florida, the congregation for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine was first established in 1565, with the church constructed in the late 1700s.
While the original church was rebuilt after a fire, it still boasts its original Spanish mission and Neoclassical styles.
If you think the outside of the Cathedral is stunning (which, of course, it is!), wait until you get a glimpse of its interior, which includes a jaw-dropping altar, stained glass, statues, and various shrines throughout the Church.
Pilgrims at St. Augustines are invited to take an hour-long behind-the-scenes tour of the Cathedral Basilica, where you can see "copies of 16th-century documents (the oldest documents in the New World), learn the stories behind the stained-glass windows, the Stations of the Cross, the bishop's coat of arms in the rafters, the murals, the three burials within the church and more."
Cathedral tours take place on weekdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. and cost $18 for adults and $12 for children ages 6 to 12.
Tickets for the guided tour can be purchased here.
Pilgrims are also invited to take a self-guided tour of the Cathedral Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (pending funerals, weddings, or other events).
Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is celebrated Monday through Friday at 7 a.m., Saturday at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Sunday at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.
To learn more about the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, please visit their website.