J. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B.
Father Augustine Wetta is the author of PRAY. THINK. ACT. , THE EIGHTH ARROW and HUMILITY RULES (which has been translated into four languages and sold over 100,000 copies!). He is a monk of Saint Louis Abbey in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he teaches high school and coaches rugby. He has degrees from Oxford University, Rice University, and Middlebury College. Father Augustine grew up on a tropical island, where he learned to surf and was nearly eaten by a shark. He has also worked as a professional juggler, beach patrol lifeguard and archaeologist. During his spare time, he raises carnivorous plants, carpenter ants, and makes armor.
The Flying Fettuccine Brothers
ABOUT SAINT LOUIS ABBEY
Saint Louis Abbey was founded in 1954, but its lineage goes back much, much further. In fact, ours is the oldest congregation of the oldest order in the world. Many of our traditions, including of course our rule, our liturgy, and our chant, go back to the fifth century and earlier. It is in this context that the monks carry out their first work of seeking God in community.
In 1954, Saint Louis Abbey comprised two monks and their superior. Today, we number more than thirty, of whom more than a third are in formation. We pray that with your help and by the grace of God, our monks will continue to grow in numbers and holiness and that our students, alumni, and parishioners will serve God humbly and faithfully.
CONTACT FATHER AUGUSTINE
Father Augustine is booked solid through December, 2024! But starting next October, he'll begin accepting requests again. In other words, he won't be booking any new "gigs" until then. He doesn't have a set fee, so as long as you can get him there, he will talk as long as you like.* The fee is whatever you think he's worth. Alternatively, he will Skype with your book club or youth group for free!
v *And he will do anything--absolutely anything--in exchange for a first-class relic!
Come by Saint Louis Abbey, and Father Augustine will be delighted to take you on a tour. Once you get him out of the cloister, he will talk about pretty much anything, but his favorite talks include...
PRAY. THINK. ACT.
Make Better Decisions...with the Desert Fathers
THE ENVY OF ANGELS
How to make the most of your Eucharistic Journey.
See a review here.
CRISIS CONVERTED: A BENEDICTINE GUIDE TO HOPE
Advice drawn from Benedictine wisdom on how to navigate these "uncertain times".
UMAR LEE AND ME: A CATHOLIC DIALOGUE WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER
Saint Louis has been called "the broken heart of America." Jesus has the power to "heal the broken hearted and bind up all their wounds."
DON'T FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
Saint Benedict's fifth-century guide to humility offers the antidote to the epidemic of stress and depression overwhelming modern young adults. But the language of The Rule of Saint Benedict is medieval, and its most passionate advocates are cloistered monks and nuns. How then does this ancient wisdom translate into advice for ordinary people?
FAIL! LIFE LESSONS FROM LOSERS, HAS-BEENS, NOBODIES, AND OTHER GREAT SAINTS
Saint John the Baptist wore home-made clothes and ate bugs, Saint Edward the Confessor was one of the worst politicians in history, Saint Philippine Duchesne was a missionary who converted no one…and that’s just the beginning. The Catholic Church has a long, rich tradition of failure, and you can be part of it! Virtue won’t necessarily lead to success, but it may make you a saint.
HOW TO BE A PART-TIME MONK
You are designed to “be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mat 5:34). But that’s impossible. You are designed “to pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). But how? The ancient monks of the Egyptian Desert discovered a long-forgotten—and surprisingly easy—way to do both.
HOW TO NEVER LOSE AN ARGUMENT--AND STILL KEEP YOUR FRIENDS!
Apologetics...monk style!
THE HISTORY OF FANTASY
The art of "Mythopoeia,” from Homer to (ahem) Wetta.