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IN THIS ISSUE
From the Desk of
Fr. John Madigan, O.M.I.
An Oblate Partnership that Endured
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Saint Augustine of Hippo made an enduring contribution to the Catholic Church through his understanding and development of Christian doctrine. Few theologians have played such a crucial role in determining the character of Western theology.
Born on November 13, 354, Augustine was raised in the African village of Tagaste. He was the son of St. Monica and a pagan father.
Soon after his father’s death in 371, Augustine went to the university in Carthage to study rhetoric and philosophy. At this time he met a woman with whom he lived out of wedlock for 15 years. During their time together they had a son, Adeodatus, in 373.
Augustine’s libertine lifestyle disappointed his holy mother greatly. She recognized his talents and encouraged him to use his gifts of knowledge for God and the Christian faith. But Augustine’s lifestyle blinded him. He became attracted to the teachings of Manicheism, a religion which taught that the universe is sharply divided between the forces of good and evil.
Augustine was drawn to the Italian city of Milan, where he heard the insightful preaching of the bishop, St. Ambrose. He began seeing God’s guiding grace in his life. He described this time as a turning point – a fight between good and evil in his soul.
During this time of internal conflict, Augustine wrote a book called The Confessions, an account of his life up to his conversion to Christianity. The autobiographical book details the remorse he felt for his sinful lifestyle, and his gratitude for his spiritual awakening.
The story is told that as he was struggling with his relationship
with God, Augustine one day threw himself into a garden to pray. All at once he heard a child sing the
words, “take and read.” Augustine
took this as a sign from God and
immediately laid his eyes on a
Scripture passage that had great
meaning to him. “Not in reveling
and drunkenness, not in lust and
wantonness, not in quarrels and
rivalries. Rather, arm yourself with
the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans
13: 13-14) Augustine realized that
he should become God’s servant.
With his mother Monica by his side,
Augustine was baptized by
St. Ambrose on Easter Sunday
in 387.
Augustine returned to north Africa where he was ordained to the priesthood, and four years later became the Bishop of Hippo. He remained in this position for 35 years until his death in the year 430.
Augustine is credited with writing some of the greatest theological works in the history of the Church. In The City of God he discusses the influence of God in history and the relationship between earthly and heavenly Christians. The book was written in response to those who felt that the Roman Empire was falling because of the influence of Christianity. Augustine is one of the truly great theologians in the history of the Christian Church, and his influence is widely felt even to this day.