In this episode, Dr. Shane Owens, a scholar of St. Augustine, joins us to discuss the power of memory. Together, we explore how memory is a place to where we withdraw to understand our identity, shape our whole self, and begin to see God working in our lives. Memory exists for the purpose of hope and we not only talk about how the Scriptures and Eucharist bear the memories of the Church, but also how our sorrowful memories can become sources of hope. 

Heather’s One Thing - Pope Leo XIV: Son of St. Augustine (A conversation with Fr. Dave Pivonka and Dr. Shane Owens)

Heather’s Other One Thing - Franciscan University’s Festival of Praise

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia

Michelle’s One Thing - Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine’s Confessions by Dr. Shane Owens

Michelle’s Other One Thing - Heaven for Me! by St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Dr. Shane Owens’ One Thing - Bible Across America from the St. Paul Center

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine’s Confessions by Dr. Shane Owens
• Bible Across America

Journal Questions:

• Am I savoring or swallowing the gifts God has given me?
• What core memories of my life have been rewritten by God?
• What sorrowful mysteries of my life feel too complicated to ponder?
• Where in your memory do you need to ask Jesus where He was present in it?

Discussion Questions:

• How can you hone your spiritual palate to be present to the good that God is doing in your life?
• When have you experienced the living power of memories?
• How have your memories been a source of hope?
• How are you being invited to slow down and ponder?

Quote to Ponder:

“The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place "to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.” (CCC 2563)

Scripture for Lectio:

“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

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Chapters: 

00:00 Hallow

01:00 Intro

01:50 Welcome

05:35 Scripture Verse and Guiding Quote

07:07 Who is St. Augustine?

09:30 What Inspired this Book?

11:18 Entering into Our Memories

13:20 How We Write Our Own Stories

15:34 Scripture and the Eucharist Help Us Understand Our Own Story

17:37 Chewing the Cud

20:47 Wondering vs Pondering

24:30 Hope in Our Sorrowful Mysteries

30:30 Finding Jesus in Painful Memories

38:59 Setting Aside Time to Hope

43:46 One Things