Today, the Augustine Friars celebrate St Augustine's Conversion. They start their prayers saying: Great Lord, you called Augustine from darkness to enlighten the Church.

Augustine's preparation for Baptism together with his son Adeodatus took place on Holy Easter Saturday, which he called "night of all nights, vigil of all vigils, without sunset, which shines on the destiny of humanity".

The slow walk in the desert for 40 days made me think of the film presented by Rai 1 at the end of January about Augustine's life. Alexander Preziosi played his part as Augustine well as did Monica his mother in the person of Monica Guerritone. At last a figure like Augustine has found a place, for the first time, in our homes through the mass media, speaking to so many who witnessed his experience of searching for truth.

The film brings out the pathos when the saint, in his confessions, slowly meets truth, Jesus Christ, to whom he wholly dedicates himself.

Holy Father Benedict XVI says this spiritual voyage, though far away, is very near to us, because the human drama repeats itself and truth is much more powerful than the obstacles man meets. This, according to Pope Benedict, is the great hope which remains to the end because we cannot alone find truth but truth, which is a person, finds us.

Augustine's message is still necessary in our times because it derives from truth and guides us to charity, which is our common destination.