From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

August 28th - St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church

Augustine was one of the most dominant theologians and Doctors of the
Catholic Church. Most of the information about his life comes from his
own writings, "The Confessions."

Aurelius Augustine was the eldest son of St. Monica, a Christian and
Patricius, a pagan official. He was born at Tagaste, Numidia, North
Africa on November 13, 354. He had a younger brother, Navigius and a
sister, Perpetua. Augustine was raised as a Christian and enrolled as
a catechumen, but never baptized. He attended school in Tagaste and
later Madaura. At the age of 16 he had to give up his schooling for
lack of funds and spent the next year in frivolous activity and
pleasure seeking.

A benefactor by the name of Romanianus enabled him to continue his
schooling and he went to Carthage where he studied philosophy and
rhetoric. He lived the gay life of a student, going to the theater,
parties, debates, etc. In 372 he had a son, Adeodatus, by a woman not
his wife, whom he sent back to North Africa in 385.

After reading "Hortensius" by Cicero, Augustine changed his focus from
rhetoric to philosophy. it was at this time that he came to accept Manicheanism, a heresy which taught a metaphysical and religious
dualism approach to good and evil. It wasn't until he met Faustus,
alleged to be the "greatest" Manichean teacher, that Augustine became disillusioned and turned away from this heretical sect. In 383 he left
Carthage for Rome where he again taught rhetoric.

It was in Rome that he met St. Ambrose and where he had an experience
which introduced him to the writings of St. Paul. It was also in Rome
that he began to seriously study Neoplatonism. These three events
would have a profound impact on his future. In the meantime his mother
had followed him first to Carthage, then Rome and on to Milan. Monica
never gave up praying and hoping for her son's conversion. She also
attempted to arrange a suitable marriage for him.

Monica's faith and persistence were finally rewarded when Augustine
was baptized in 387. However his marriage plans were scuttled when
Augustine elected to take a vow of celibacy. He proposed to return to
Africa, but delayed about a year after his mother's death at Ostia,
while they were enroute home. In 388 he sold his property dispensing
all to the poor and he, his son and some friends retired to a monastic
style of life. His son died shortly afterwards in 389.

In 391, Augustine was ordained to the priesthood and while still
living the monastic life began preaching. His eloquence led many to
conversion and in 395 he was consecrated bishop. He would continue as
bishop of Hippo for about thirty-five years and it was during this
time that most of his writings were completed. By the spoken and
written word he fought several heresies, particularly Manicheanism,
Donatism and Pelagianism. He died on August 28, 430. Today over 200
treatises, 300 letters and 400 sermons are still in existence. He is
probably best known for his, "Confessions" and "City of God, as well
as his "Treatise on the Trinity" and "De Doctrina Christiana."

Augustine was a middle-class young man who was gifted with a brilliant
mind. He pursued knowledge and pleasure wholeheartedly and when his
eyes were opened to the presence of God, he pursued Him just as
strongly. In following Christ with all his being, he has left us a
legacy whose riches are still being discovered.

See longer Version at: http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Augustine.html


Saint Quote:
Great art Thou, O Lord, and highly to be praised; great is Thy power,
yea, and Thy wisdom is infinite. And man would praise Thee, because he
is one of Thy creatures; yea, man, though he bears about with him his mortality, the proof of his sin, the proof that Thou, O God, dost
resist the proud, yet would man praise Thee, because he is one of Thy creatures. Thou dost prompt us thereto, making it a joy to praise
Thee; for Thou hast created us unto Thyself, and our heart finds no
rest until it rests in Thee. Grant me, O Lord, to know and understand
which comes first, to call upon Thee, or to praise Thee, and which
comes first, to know Thee or to call upon Thee.
--The Confessions of St. Augustine

Bible Quote:
Not for the world do I pray, but for those whom Thou, Father, hast
given Me, because they are Thine. (John 17:9


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Excerpt from De Spiritu et littera, lviii St. Augustine

But "God wills all men to be saved to come and to the knowledge of
the truth (1 Timothy, ii, 4); not, however, so as to take away their
will, for the good or bad use of which they are most justly judged.
When this happens it is true that unbelievers act contrary to God's
will, when thy do not believe in His Gospel; but that does not mean
that they conquer God, but that they deprive themselves of the great
good and involve themselves in evils as their reward, afterwards to
experience in their punishment His power whose mercies they despised
in His gifts."
"Sinners do not hope for the pardon of the sins of which they
repent: but they hope that, though they continue to commit sin, God
will have mercy upon them: and thus they make the mercy of God serve
as a motive for continuing to offend Him. This hope will make God
hasten the execution of His vengeance: for surely a master will not
defer the punishment of servants who offend him because he is good.
God is good: I will do what I please!"
--St. Augustine
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