The Confessions of St. Augustine

ST. Augustine | The Confessions
Author: Augustine of Hippo
Translated by John K. Ryan

Tagaste

Aurelius Augustine's Birth place in 354
Location: North Africa
Roman province of Numidia
Fertile Land
Modern world Souk Ahras, Algeria.

Family Background

 Son of Patricius, who
was a pagan town
councilor.
 Mother was Christian (
ST. Monica)
 Descended from the
dark-skinned
Europeanized North
Africans known as
Berbers.
ST. Augustine and his mother
discuss the kingdom of heaven.

Education

 Studied in Carthage ( Tunis, North Africa)
 Philosophical systems:
 Manicheanism – Good and evil are the operative forces of
the universe.
 NeoPlatonism – Souls striving for perfection in an
imperfect world.
 Became a teacher in 374

Language

 Augustine was taught the language of Latin and
became interested in the literature.

Religion

 Christianity was established
as the official religion on the
Roman Empire.
 ST. Augustine converted and
accepted Christianity and in
387 was baptized a Christian.
 Entered monastic society in
the Catholic hierarchy to
become bishop of Hippo in
396.

Influential Characters

 Monica- Augustine's mother who has helped guide
Augustine into salvation.
 Ambrose – Also lead to Augustine's conversion was the
Catholic Bishop in Milan.
 Nebridius and Alypus were Augustine's friends who also
seemed to encourage him towards god, as they also
converted.

Middle Ages

 “Christian Age”
 Influenced by ST. Augustine after the Roman Empire had
fallen.
 Christian Martyrs

The Massacre of the
Innocents
“ Died not only for
Christ, but in his stead.”
– ST. Augustine

Western Europe

 Christian culture were
established, St.
Augustine had many
contributions.
 Changed the way
Christianity was
viewed.

Political and Social

 His way of thinking was passed on and on from ages and
writings.
 Church- State
 Theories from
The City of God
led to the roles of
each and how they
had much to do
with each other.

Other Written Works

 Augustine's other main works include:
 The City of God, which appeared between 416 and 422.
 The Trinity, written between 399 and 419.

Death


Hippo Regius (Annaba) is where Augustine spent his last 40 years,
ministering his diocese and writing works of both theology and moral
Philosophy, Where he died in 430.

Summary

 ST. Augustine went through life trying to figure out
whether or not he should convert into Christianity. In the
mean time he focused on education, philosophy, and
writings.
 Augustine noticed he was living a life full of sins and
wanted to help others also make a difference.
 He was inspired by Bishop Ambrose from Milan and
ended up converting to the religion.
 Became priest in 391 and Bishop of Hippo by 396
 His works The Confessions helped shape society ages after.

Passage #1
 Grace of Faith
From book VIII, Chapter 5 The
“I had no answer to give to you when you said to me.
“Rise, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and
Christ will enlighten you.” When on all sides you
showed me that your words were true, and I was
overcome by your truth, I had no answer whatsoever to
make, but only those who slow and drowsy words, “
Right away. Yes right away.” “Let me be for a little
while.” But “Right away, right away” was never right
now, and “Let me be for a little while” stretched out for
a longtime.”

Passage #2

 “Such words I spoke, and with most bitter contrition I wept within my heart.
And lo, I heard from a nearby house, a voice like that of a boy or a girl, I
know not which, chanting and repeating over and over, “ Take up and read.
Take up and read.” Instantly, with altered countenance, I began to think most
intently whether children made use of any such chant in some kind of game
, but I could not recall hearing it anywhere. I checked the flow of my tears and
got up, for I interpreted this solely as a command given to me by God to open
the book and read the first chapter I should come upon. For I had heard how
Anthony had been admonished by a reading from the Gospel at which he
chanced to be present , as if the words read were addressed to him: “ Go, sell
what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in
heaven, and come, follow me,” and that by such a portent he was immediately
converted to you.” - Chapter 12 book 8

Questions

Augustine believed in Free Will. Would you agree
that there is such thing as “free will?” or are we
put on this earth already destined for a specific
purpose? What other works that we have read in
this course relate to going on a spiritual search
for god and salvation?

Works Cited

St, of Hippo." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Ed.
Livingstone, E. A.. : Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford Reference. 2006. Date
Accessed 21 Oct. 2013
<http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198614425.001.0001/acref-97
80198614425-e-464>.
 "Augustine, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. : Oxford University
Press, 2009. Oxford Reference. 2009. Date Accessed 22 Oct. 2013
80199207800-e-75>.


"Augustine,

 "Augustine, St." The Oxford Classical Dictionary. : Oxford University Press, 2012. Oxford
Reference. 2012. Date Accessed 20 Oct. 2013
80199545568-e-977>.
 "pagan, paganism." Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World. Ed. Roberts, John. : Oxford
University Press, 2007. Oxford Reference. 2007. Date Accessed 21 Oct. 2013
80192801463-e-1582>.

The Confessions of St. Augustine

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