Saint Augustine of Hippo is the spiritual founder of the Order of St. Augustine, the community of Catholic priests and lay brothers who sponsor Malvern Prep.St. Augustine was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian by his devote mother, St. Monica, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand the Divine Truth anymore. Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life.

One day, full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Pick up and read!" Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life. - From www.catholic.org.

Malvern Prep is a member of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. For more information about the province, please visit http://www.augustinian.org/

For more information on St. Augustine and Malvern Prep's Augustinian heritage, visit these interesting sites:

http://www.heritage.villanova.edu/augustine.html
http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/augustinianinstitute/