Saint Augustine of Canterbury:
The Apostle Who Brought the Faith to England
Every corner of the Catholic world is adorned with the brilliant tapestry of our saints—men and women who, by the grace of God, stepped into the unknown to carry the torch of the true Faith. Some—like Saint Augustine of Canterbury—blazed trails not only across countries, but across centuries as well, planting seeds that would blossom and bear fruit for generations. At Journeys of Faith, our mission is to help you walk in their footsteps, to feel the weight and wonder of their journeys, and to discover how their yes to Jesus continues to echo into our own lives.
The story of Saint Augustine of Canterbury is, above all, the story of a pilgrimage—a journey fueled by obedience, humility, and a fierce love for the Church. Sent from Rome by the great Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Augustine crossed the seas in the spring of 597, bringing the light of Christ to the land of the Angles. It is a story shaped by prayer before the Eucharist, by loving devotion to Our Lady, and by the steadfast hope of building a Christian family, even amidst doubt and uncertainty.
As we gather around our family tables, pray the Rosary together, or approach Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, let us remember the example of Saint Augustine. His legacy is not just written in books or carved on ancient stones—it’s alive in every soul that finds faith where none seemed possible. Journey with us as we recall the life of this humble apostle, celebrate the beauty of our Catholic inheritance, and draw strength for our own pilgrim path. Through his intercession, may we too proclaim the gospel with boldness, compassion, and abiding trust in God’s providence.
The World Augustine Entered: Pagan England Awaiting the Gospel
Before Saint Augustine of Canterbury ever set foot on English shores, the land he was sent to evangelize was a tapestry of mystery and spiritual yearning. Late sixth-century England was not the “green and pleasant land” later hymns would evoke, but a collection of rugged kingdoms, divided by rivers, wild forests, and local warlords. The people were Anglo-Saxons, fierce descendants of northern pagan tribes, whose gods were ancient, their rituals shrouded in torchlight and bone-white mist.
Here, life was deeply religious—yet it was a religiosity shaped by the cycles of nature and the whims of capricious spirits. Pagan temples smoked with animal sacrifice to Woden and Thunor; sacred groves were revered, and the seasons marked by feasts to earth’s unpredictable powers. The name of Christ, whispered along the coasts by traders or the banished Welsh monks, was largely unknown and regarded as a rumor from lost, conquered lands.
It was into this spiritual frontier, where hope mingled with fear and the great questions of life seemed answered only by the wheel of fate, that Augustine walked. He came not as a conqueror, but as a shepherd—bearing the treasures of Christ’s love, the sweet certainty of the Eucharist, and the assurance that the living God had come near. His mission? To transform hearts, not by force, but through the persuasive beauty of Truth.
Imagine Augustine approaching, cloaked in Benedictine black, carrying the precious Gospel book, a relic cross, and perhaps a well-worn rosary. His companions chant hymns, the air humming with whispered prayers for Our Lady’s aid. What did the first gatherings look like? A handful of converts around a smoky fire, the first Mass celebrated amidst ancient stones, the Real Presence of Jesus silently conquering the night’s fears.
The England Augustine entered was a land longing for light, its people searching—often unknowingly—for the Father’s gentle embrace. And just as Our Lady, the dawn bearing Christ to the world, so Augustine came as the dawn for England, heralding the Sun of the Eucharist to souls yearning for salvation.
Continue Your Journey of Faith with UsSaint Augustine of Canterbury’s life shows us how one faithful soul, set ablaze with love for Christ and the Church, can transform the course of history. His story is an invitation: to trust in Divine Providence, to love the Holy Eucharist, and to spread the light of Christ wherever we are. At Journeys of Faith, we’re here to help you deepen your devotion—at home, with your family, and in your parish. Discover resources that tell the heroic stories of saints like Augustine and invite you into a living tradition of Catholic faith:
Let us help you draw closer to Jesus, through Mary and the saints. Visit Journeys of Faith today—your trusted place for traditional Catholic resources that nurture hearts, families, and parishes worldwide. |
Pope St. Gregory the Great and the Call to Mission
The year was 597, and the cry of England echoed across the sea—a land steeped in pagan tradition, yet destined, by the mysterious designs of Providence, to become a beacon of Christian faith. At the heart of this divine turning point stood Pope St. Gregory the Great, a shepherd whose compassion overflowed for souls yet unclaimed by Christ.
Gregory’s vision for England wasn’t born from strategy or political calculation. It sprang forth from a moment at a Roman marketplace, where he encountered fair-haired Anglo-Saxon children being sold as slaves. Moved by the Holy Spirit—his heart burning with the charity of Christ—Gregory saw not captives, but future saints. “Not Angles, but angels,” he is said to have remarked, glimpsing in their faces the hope of an island nation one day radiant with the light of the Gospel.
But missionary work in the sixth century wasn’t merely a matter of sending letters or priests. It was an act of daring love—of entrusting one’s own companions, the cherished sons of the Church, to uncertain waters, physical hardships, and the spiritual darkness of the unknown. Gregory chose Augustine, the prior of his own Benedictine monastery, a humble and learned monk dear to his heart. Augustine would not travel alone; a band of thirty companions made pilgrimage with him—brothers united in prayer, obedience, and profound Eucharistic trust.
Before setting forth, Augustine and his brothers turned to the Mother of God, seeking her intercession on their perilous journey. Their strength for this voyage was drawn, as it always is for Catholic missionaries, from the Bread of Angels: daily Mass, the Rosary, and the constant invocation of the saints. They were fortified by Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist—a mystery that prepared them to bear hardship for the sake of eternal souls.
Pope Gregory’s instructions to Augustine were tender and wise—a father entrusting his children to the Father of mercies. He urged patience, humility, and the gradual teaching of the Faith, sowing seeds of Catholic truth through witness as much as through words. Augustine was charged with rooting the fledgling Church in Sacred Scripture, apostolic tradition, and faithful devotion—especially to the Eucharist and to Mary, Mother of the Church.
As Augustine and his brother-monks set foot toward Kent, Gregory’s prayers went with them. The Holy Father’s vision was simple and radical: that all men, even those in darkness, might come to know the sacrificial love of Jesus, share in the breaking of the Bread, and venerate the saints—joining in a worship that unites heaven and earth. The call to mission was an echo of the Lord’s own: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Augustine answered—not with timidity, but with the courage of saints.
From Roman Monastery to Missionary Journey
Picture a soft candlelight flickering against cool, stone walls. The city is Rome. The year, near the end of the sixth century. Saint Augustine of Canterbury, at this moment known simply as Augustine, lives a life of prayer and work within the quiet sanctuary of a Benedictine monastery. Like so many men and women called to the monastic life, he was formed in the ancient rhythms of the Divine Office: singing the Psalms, attending Holy Mass with a kneeling reverence before the Eucharist, and finding Our Lady a constant motherly companion in each "Salve Regina" whispered from the choir stalls.
It was within these sacred walls that Augustine first encountered not only the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, but also the stories of missionary saints before him—men and women who had crossed wild seas and unknown lands for the love of Christ. His heart stirred with a longing that can only be born in a soul steeped in devotion: the desire that every land, and every heart, would know the joy of encountering Jesus present in the Eucharist and the maternal care of Mary.
But Rome was not to be his permanent home. In 597 AD, Pope Saint Gregory the Great, himself a lover of monastic peace but also a shepherd always on the lookout for lost sheep, received word that the English people—descendants of the Anglo-Saxons—were living without the light of the Gospel. Pagan practices held sway; devotion to Christ and His Church was nearly unknown. The Holy Father, inspired by mercy and zeal for souls, looked among the monks for a leader devout, wise, and gentle. Augustine was chosen.
The choice would demand everything Augustine had received in the quiet of the monastery: his love for the liturgy, his Marian devotion, and his humble obedience. The journey would be long and fraught with rumors of danger—wild men, storm-tossed seas, and the unknown struggles of missionary life. But Augustine, trusting in the prayers of the Blessed Virgin and strengthened by the daily nourishment of the Eucharist, said yes. His brothers, some forty monks, joined him in this act of courage, leaving behind the warmth of their cloister for the fog and uncertainty of England, carrying with them relics, liturgical books, sacred vessels, and a deep, unshakable faith.
Theirs was a journey not just across borders, but into the very heart of God’s providence—a story that reminds us all: when the Lord calls, He always provides, especially those graces entrusted to the Church through the Eucharist and the gentle intercession of Our Lady.
Augustine’s Arrival in Kent and First Encounters
The journey from Rome to the mist-shrouded shores of Kent was no simple pilgrimage for Augustine and his band of missionaries. They set sail, hearts fortified by prayer and the blessing of Pope Gregory the Great himself, clutching relics of the saints and the sacred Gospel. The mission was daunting: to bring the Light of Christ to a land long wandering in the shadows of pagan worship, where echoes of the old gods lingered in the forests and fields.
As Augustine stepped onto English soil in the spring of 597, the landscape that greeted him was stark and unfamiliar. He carried with him not only the Word of God, but a deep love for the Eucharist and a devotion to Our Lady, Mary, seeking her intercession at every step. With prayer and humility, Augustine turned his eyes toward Canterbury, the heart of King Ethelbert’s realm—a king whose very marriage hinted at divine possibilities. Ethelbert’s wife, Queen Bertha, was a devout Christian, bringing something of Rome’s faith into England long before Augustine arrived.
Augustine’s first encounter with King Ethelbert was marked by both apprehension and hope. The king, though cautious, allowed the missionaries to preach and promised them safety—perhaps moved by the gentle courage radiating from these strangers. Augustine and his companions processed through the countryside, bearing a great silver cross and singing litanies, the timeless chants echoing softly over the fields. It is said that Ethelbert even agreed to meet Augustine outdoors, beneath the clear sky, a sign of respect and a small opening to grace.
The first Mass celebrated on English soil was nothing less than a miracle. With reverence, Augustine raised the Eucharist, Christ’s true Presence, above a land where none had yet adored Him in this sacramental way. The faith began to take root, quietly, in the hearts of the people—one home, one soul at a time—watered by Augustine’s prayer for Mary’s motherly protection, that she might crush the doubts and fears still lurking in the new believers’ hearts.
In these beginnings, England’s story as Mary's Dowry was set in motion. Augustine, the gentle apostle, sowed seeds that would bear fruit for centuries—guided by Our Lady, the company of saints, and above all, unfailing faith in the real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
King Ethelbert and the Opening of England to Christianity
In the swirling mists of late 6th-century Kent, a remarkable meeting took place—one that would forever alter the spiritual destiny of England. King Ethelbert, a ruler of dignity and vision, reigned over the Kingdom of Kent at a crossroads of history. Though a powerful pagan monarch, Ethelbert’s heart was softened through his beloved wife, Queen Bertha, a devout Christian princess from Gaul whose gentle fidelity to Christ became a quiet beacon in the royal court. The quiet witness of her prayer and steadfast devotion prepared the soil.
When Augustine—humble monk, emissary of Pope Gregory the Great, and later to be Saint Augustine of Canterbury—first set foot on English soil, he did so not as a conqueror but as a servant. Tradition lovingly recalls how Augustine and his companions arrived singing litanies, bearing a silver cross and an image of Christ painted on a wooden board. The fragrance of holiness, the beauty of the procession, stirred something deep within the king.
It was Ethelbert who received Augustine under the green boughs at Thanet, a place chosen for its open air—legend has it the king feared magical enchantments indoors. But the Spirit of Christ works wonders both in the open and hidden places of the human heart. Augustine spoke with reverence, clarity, and gentle courage, sharing the message of salvation, the love of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, and the peace won for us on the Cross. After careful consideration, Ethelbert granted Augustine and his monks freedom to preach and establish their community in Canterbury.
This moment was more than a diplomatic exchange; it was a spiritual threshold. The king, though not immediately converted, offered protection and encouragement. Soon, the power of grace worked through the sacraments and Christian charity, drawing Ethelbert to the waters of baptism. With his conversion, the doors of England swung wide to Christ—an entire kingdom opening itself, family by family, soul by soul, to the Faith. The ancient land that would one day be filled with monasteries, Marian shrines, and Eucharistic adorers, had been awakened.
The story of King Ethelbert and Saint Augustine reminds us that even the seemingly immovable hearts can be transformed by faithful witness, humble prayer, and the timeless appeal of God’s love. Their meeting was not simply a moment in history, but a seed of faith that continues to bear fruit across the centuries.
The Role of Queen Bertha in Preparing the Way
Before Saint Augustine of Canterbury ever set foot on English soil, God had already sown seeds for the Faith to take root—quietly, gently, through the heart of a praying queen. Queen Bertha, a Christian princess from Gaul, married King Ethelbert of Kent in the late sixth century. Though her new land was still steeped in pagan traditions, Bertha carried the light of Christ with her, steadfast in devotion amid uncertainty.
Her marriage came with a promise: she was free to practice her faith and brought with her a chaplain, Bishop Liudhard, who celebrated the Holy Mass in a small, ancient church dedicated to Saint Martin outside Canterbury’s city walls. This humble sanctuary became a living tabernacle—the Eucharist quietly adored, prayers rising like incense for the conversion of her household, her people, her husband.
Guided by her abiding love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, Bertha’s everyday witness was simple yet profound. She prayed, loved, and persevered, her Marian devotion radiating peace even in a pagan court. The queen’s gentle wisdom softened King Ethelbert’s heart; he saw in her fidelity to prayer, and in the sacred regularity of Mass, something more enduring than royal alliances.
When Pope St. Gregory the Great resolved to send missionaries to England, it was Bertha’s influence—her faith, her hidden prayers, and her steadfast Marian devotion—that prepared the soil. Without her holy example, Augustine's mission may have found less fertile ground. Queen Bertha stands quietly behind the scenes of history, an intercessor whose love and steadfastness, like Mary’s at Cana, opened hearts so the new wine of the Gospel could flow in England.
Preaching Christ to the Anglo-Saxons
When Saint Augustine of Canterbury set foot on the soil of Kent around the year 597, his heart undoubtedly trembled. He carried with him the mission entrusted to him by Pope Saint Gregory the Great: to bring the light of Christ to the Anglo-Saxon people, a land where the name of Jesus was still barely known and ancient gods claimed every hearth and village. How daunting it must have been for Augustine! Yet, like so many missionaries before and after him, he clung to the Eucharist and to Our Lady, sure anchors in the stormy seas of uncertainty.
Augustine did not come alone. Hidden in the folds of his journey were forty monks, men inspired by the same love for Christ and devotion to His Church. Together, they crossed the narrow waters from Gaul and landed at Ebbsfleet, greeted by strange customs and unfamiliar faces. It was here, on English soil, that Augustine’s faith was tested and revealed. Rather than relying on persuasive arguments or worldly power, he fell to his knees in prayer, trusting in the transforming grace of God. Their first act, as tradition tells us, was to celebrate the Holy Mass. The Real Presence of the Eucharistic Lord became their heart and sustenance, just as it would become the new lifeblood of England’s forthcoming Christian identity.
King Æthelberht of Kent, though still a pagan, received Augustine with respect and curiosity. What won the king’s open heart? Not arguments, but the sanctity and humility of these men, their trust in Christ, and the radiant peace born of prayer. Augustine and his monks made the sign of the Cross as they walked; they chanted the divine praises; they carried images of Christ and holy icons, testifying silently to beauty that transcends words. It was the witness of their lives—a living Gospel, echoing through the fields of Kent.
Their preaching was not only with words but in acts of mercy and friendship. They greeted the people as Christ would, showing reverence for their dignity. Step by step, Augustine baptized the king and his household—the first fruits of a glorious harvest. From Canterbury, the faith spread like fire: Mass was offered; churches rose; Mary, Queen of Heaven, was honored anew in the land; and devotion to Christ in the Eucharist became the beating heart of a new people.
In these holy beginnings, we see a simple, profound truth: great victories for Christ are won not with force, but with humble fidelity, fervent prayer, and utter confidence in the power of the sacraments and in the Mother of God, whose prayers accompany every apostolic adventure. Augustine of Canterbury, by preaching Christ to the Anglo-Saxons, planted a seed that would blossom for centuries—a true “journey of faith” still bearing fruit in the Church today.
Baptisms, Conversions, and the Growth of the Early Church
The landscape of England in the days of Saint Augustine of Canterbury was wild and uncertain—a land rich in natural beauty, yet spiritually untended. Pagan customs held the hearts of the people, kings wavered between old allegiances and new ideas, and the Christian faith was little more than a rumor lingering on the coasts. Into this world, Augustine stepped boldly, a humble monk carrying nothing but the blessings of Pope Gregory the Great, a band of fellow missionaries, and faith in the power of Christ and His Church.
Augustine’s first challenge was the heart of a king. Ethelbert of Kent, though married to the Christian Bertha, was cautious. Paganism ran deep. Yet, Augustine’s own faith—rooted in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, wrapped in the prayers of Our Lady and the intercession of the saints—brought a gentle steadfastness. It is said that Augustine and his companions processed through Canterbury singing the litany of the saints, their voices echoing in land still thirsty for the Gospel.
In time, Ethelbert’s heart opened, and he asked for baptism—a moment as dramatic as the dawn. That baptism was no mere ritual: it was the beginning of a miracle that would sweep across families and entire villages. According to tradition, on Christmas Day in 597, Augustine and his monks baptized thousands, each soul washed clean and sealed with the Holy Spirit. For these new Christians, the faith was tangible and luminous. They learned to fold their hands in prayer, gaze with awe upon the altar where bread became the Body of Christ, and lift up their intentions, knowing the Mother of God and the angels were interceding.
Conversions multiplied, but not without effort or hardship. The missionaries, ever conscious of their need for grace, turned to prayer and penance—often invoking Mary and the saints as their heavenly advocates. Small communities formed where the Eucharist became the center of daily life, and the teachings of Christ began to transform customs, laws, and the rhythms of family and village life. Children learned the Our Father; parents found hope in the promise of salvation.
Saint Augustine’s mission was never cold or merely strategic. Souls were drawn by love, by the visible presence of holiness, and by sacramental life. The seeds he planted would bear fruit for centuries, making “the faith once delivered to the saints” a living, shining reality in English soil.
Establishing the See of Canterbury
For a moment, imagine the dawn mist curling through the wild, green hills of Kent—the land where Saint Augustine of Canterbury would plant the seeds of the Faith. Sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great in the year 597, Augustine arrived with a band of fellow missionaries, lanterns of Christian hope amidst the uncertainty of a pagan land. Their journey, marked by prayer, sacrifice, and a deep, unwavering trust in God, was about to bear fruit that would flourish for centuries.
King Æthelberht of Kent, whose heart had already been gently prepared by his Christian wife, Queen Bertha, welcomed Augustine and his companions. It was in this spirit of hospitality, under the shadow of ancient trees, that the first public Eucharistic celebration was held on English soil—a moment so humble, and yet so profound, that it echoes in every English Mass to this day. With reverence, Augustine showed the king and his court the beauty of the Sacred Mysteries—the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist, the motherly intercession of Mary, and the glory of the saints, whose relics would one day rest in this land.
The king would soon accept baptism, opening the gates of grace for his people. Augustine, now the first Archbishop, established his episcopal seat at Canterbury, sanctifying the ground with daily prayer and the unbroken celebration of the Mass. From a humble dwelling rose the first cathedral—a living icon of the visible Church. Here, the bells tolled for Matins and Vespers; here, monks and newly baptized converts knelt together. The Faith took root in hearts and families, binding generations to Our Lord’s Mystical Body.
With every act—preaching, teaching, offering the sacraments—Saint Augustine imitated the apostles before him, lovingly guiding his flock and entrusting England to the maternal embrace of Our Lady. The household devotions, the sung litanies, the reverence for holy images and sacramentals: all these became woven into the very fabric of English Catholic life, thanks to the steadfast witness of Augustine and his missionary brothers.
Augustine as First Archbishop of Canterbury
In the early dawn of Christianity in England, it was Providence itself that set Saint Augustine of Canterbury upon a path few had trod. Sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Augustine arrived on the Kentish shores with a band of companions, hearts brimming with the faith and a holy uncertainty about what lay ahead. The island’s spiritual landscape was wild and untamed—a place where ancient pagan rites mingled with flickers of earlier Christian witness. Yet Augustine bore within him the fervor of the early apostles, anchored by a deep love for the Eucharist and unwavering trust in the intercession of Our Lady.
Upon meeting King Æthelberht of Kent and his Christian queen, Bertha, Augustine’s mission became a living testament to the power of gentle evangelization. With prayer and sacramental life at its center, the monks celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the open air, transforming that corner of Kent into hallowed ground. These first liturgies were not just formalities, but intimate encounters with the living Christ—moments through which heaven touched earth.
It was in this spirit of humble service and fidelity to Rome that Augustine was consecrated as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. His episcopal mission was not simply about imposing doctrine, but about shepherding souls, building the cradle of English Catholicism brick by brick. Augustine’s episcopacy became a beacon: he organized the earliest dioceses, trained new native clergy, and established monastic communities shaped by love for the liturgy, the chanting of the psalms, and a Marian devotion that lingered sweetly in their communal prayers.
Through trials and misunderstandings, Augustine bore patiently with the hesitant local peoples, ever mindful of Christ’s command to “feed my lambs.” It is moving to imagine those first converts—frightened, awed, and hopeful—receiving their first Holy Communion, finding in the Eucharist the same Bread of Life that the apostles had known. Augustine, though foreign in land and tongue, became a father to an entire nation, an apostle planting seeds destined to bloom into the glorious flowering of Catholic faith on English soil.
Conclusion: Walking in the Footsteps of Saint Augustine of Canterbury
Saint Augustine of Canterbury’s journey reminds us that every great work of evangelization begins with a humble “yes” to God’s call. Like the Apostles before him, Augustine brought Christ to a land hungry for truth, mercy, and love—planting seeds of faith on English soil that would bear fruit for centuries. His devotion to Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, his fidelity to the teachings handed down from the apostles, and his gentle love for souls remain a beacon for all Catholics today.
As we reflect on the life of this holy bishop, let us remember that holiness is not reserved for a distant past. Christ calls each of us, in our own families, parishes, and communities, to carry the torch of faith forward. By growing in devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, turning to Our Lady as our model and guide, and fostering a friendship with the saints, we continue the mission that Saint Augustine began.
At Journeys of Faith, we invite you to deepen your own walk with Christ by embracing the treasures of our Catholic heritage. May Saint Augustine of Canterbury, and all the holy men and women who have gone before us, pray for us as we continue our journey home to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Augustine of Canterbury
Who was Saint Augustine of Canterbury?
Saint Augustine of Canterbury is revered as the “Apostle to the English.” Sent from Rome in the late 6th century, he was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Through his steadfast faith and gentle leadership, Augustine helped bring the light of the Catholic faith to England, laying the foundation for centuries of devotion to Christ, the Holy Eucharist, and Our Blessed Mother.
How did Augustine become a monk?
Augustine embraced religious life in the ancient Benedictine monastery of Saint Andrew in Rome. Drawn to a life of prayer, community, and humble service, he dedicated himself wholly to God—a quiet “yes” that would echo through the ages as he answered ever greater calls to missionary discipleship.
Which pope sent Augustine to England?
It was the great Pope Saint Gregory the Great who entrusted Augustine with his mission to bring Christianity to the English people. Moved by the plight of the pagan Anglo-Saxons, Pope Gregory saw Augustine’s gentle strength and fervent devotion as perfect for such an apostolic task.
What was Augustine’s mission in England?
Augustine’s mission was nothing less than to carry the faith of the apostles to the far reaches of the English isles. He was sent to preach the Gospel, baptize, build up the Church, and plant the seeds of a living faith that would endure in English hearts and homes for generations. His work was marked by reverence for the sacraments, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, love for Our Lady, and compassion for all he encountered.
Where did Augustine first land in England?
Augustine and his faithful band of monks first landed on the Isle of Thanet, off the southeast coast of England, in the spring of 597 A.D. It was here, under English skies and with the blessing of King Ethelbert of Kent, that Augustine began his mighty work, building not only churches of stone, but spiritual homes for the faithful.
When did Augustine arrive in England?
Saint Augustine arrived in England in the year 597 A.D. After his journey across the sea from Rome, supported by Pope Gregory’s prayers, he brought with him not just holy men, but holy relics, the Cross of Christ, and the Church’s living memory—a true missionary family in search of new spiritual sons and daughters.