On St. Augustine of Hippo's Confessions

A book review on "The Confessions of Saint Augustine", translated, with an introduction and notes, by John K. Ryan

One of the most colorful and popular saints in the Catholic tradition is Saint Augustine of Hippo. He may be one of the many that are next in popularity to Saint Francis of Assisi. He wrote a very good autobiographical book filled with philosophical and theological insights: "The Confessions". This blog post will seek to present some of those insights.

Some details of Saint Augustine's life

Although the book has not made a clear story of Saint Augustine's life, we can know the familiar details about his life - especially those that have helped him on the road to sanctity. To better understand his autobiography, one can read the material written before the actual content of his writing.

Saint Augustine was born in Hippo, Africa in the early 4th century. He lived a licentious life in his early year and was involved in teaching and ideals that was clearly not in line with Christian teaching. Specifically, he believed in Manichaeism. Because of his mother's, incessant prayers, he gradually converted to Christianity. The famous story that is told about this conversion is in the sermon of Saint Ambrose, whose words deeply touched his soul. Though Augustine sired a son out of wedlock, after his conversion, he included his son in the community which he started - a community that included his mother, his son, his sister, and his friends. His sister eventually became the abbess of the women in the community and he became the leader of the men. This community grew and became what we know now as the Augustinians.

A brief review of the autobiography

The book of "The Confessions" is really very interesting. In the very first chapters of the book, you will have a sense that the man is indeed a holy man and is worthy of sainthood. It is really rare for someone who has achieved the status of bishop and doctor of the church to write about the sins of his "infancy and childhood!" This is something one must really read in order to have a real sense of his holiness. As you read along the other chapters, you will not only have other details of his life, but also learn much wisdom from his prayers and reflection. There is a lot of philosophical insights which you can read about that show St. Augustine's degree of intelligence and education. If you have a basic philosophical background in college, it will be easier to understand what he writes. But more than just his philosophy, his spiritual insights on God and His love and mercy for all mankind is the best.

The chapters in the book

There are thirteen 'books' in the book itself and the following list will give the titles of these thirteen books. One 'book' has as little as thirteen chapters and another has as many as thirty one chapters.

• Book 1: Childhood
• Book 2: Augustine's Sixteenth Year
• Book 3: Later Youth
• Book 4: Augustine the Manichean
• Book 5: At Rome and Milan
• Book 6: Years of Struggle
• Book 7: Problems of Thought and Belief
• Book 8: The Grace of Faith
• Book 9: The New Catholic
• Book 10: A Philosophy of Memory
• Book 11: Time and Eternity
• Book 12: Form and Matter
• Book 13: The Creation of the World

A classic recommended even by non-Christians

This book is so good that it is recommended by non-Christians who have read it without really knowing even the basics of the Christian faith. For those who are busy in their professional lives, this is a book you can read, to divert your mindset from the "ratings race". It will bring you into a world of ideas that are rooted in truths that one can fully understand if given more time. It is the first few chapters of the book which are really interesting and easy to read. Towards the latter chapters, when Saint Augustine speaks more on the development of his Christian philosophy, the tone of the language begins to be heavier. However, you need not read every word nor absorb every paragraph. You can simply choose the parts of the book which will help you get a sense of what he wants us to know about God's love and His mercy, through his experience of conversion to Christianity.

God's call

God's call surprises us. Before awareness of His call, we are busy about our routines. His call ennobles us - opening us to a broader vision of life, meaning and direction. It either separates us from the routines of the working world or integrates us into a whole new direction of understanding.

One example who followed God's call was Abraham. Abraham was old and had no heir. In the eyes of others, especially the Jewish culture, he lacked life. But that changed when the Lord called him to be His friend - and to be the father of many nations. When Abraham became aware of this call, he did not know what would lie ahead of him. He had no idea where the Lord would lead him. But he trusted and had confidence in God. His journey in faith led to the fruition of God's promise - a son. The fruition of God's promise did not end in Abraham's receiving an heir. His journey to believe in God continued on till the end of his life.  

Are we also called by God like Abraham? 

Certainly and in many ways. It might not be in the same degree as Abraham, but the quality of God's call for each one of us is truly of much value, even priceless. It is up to us to discover what our specific call is. It is unique to each and everyone of us. All of God's calls to His children are unique and singular, as each of us were created by Him to know, love and serve Him in the manner He wills for us. Each one of us are "fearfully and wonderfully made" as the Psalmist expresses in the one of the Psalms. All of us have a role to play in the plan of God to redeem humanity and the local environment in which we live and work. What that role is will surely contribute to the building of the Church. 

What this call is gives us an awareness. An awareness of God's love for all and how each and every one is called to share in it. It makes the drudgery routines of our life and work "enkindled", as it were, with the light of God's graces and blessings. It is an awareness that makes us see what God has greatly blessed us with and the potential of what can be done to offer Him.

There is an anecdote of two laborers who were working to materialize a plan to build something. One laborer was asked what he was doing. He said, "Oh, I'm just doing this thing day in and day out, shoveling here, putting the bricks over there, and all sorts of ordinary things a construction worker is supposed to do. It's a bit boring, but I need to make a living." The other laborer was asked what he was doing and this was what he said: "Oh, I'm doing my part in building the cathedral that the blueprint is supposed to tell us what to do! I'm excited because this cathedral will surely be a great cathedral!" 

Faith is a gift. And it is a gift we receive from a God who generously gives it. This gift and attitude of faith is what counts in life. It gives us a direction and meaning. Even when things are bleak and dismal, faith is like a beacon that directs us to hope in God more than what we ever have. It is a treasure more precious than gold or diamonds or anything materially valuable on earth. All material things will fade away, but the gift of faith, if kept alive by prayer and reflection, will strengthen our relationship with God and improve our life with others. 

Faith is a gift and a responsibility to be lived for God, others and one's own personal good. When a situation calls us to act in faith, it will direct us to work with all that we have, so that others too may obtain what they need to live according to the basic rights of all people are called to have. 

The call of God is an opportunity for Christian excellence - that excellence that makes "more than we can be" - as the song "You raise me up" exemplifies. Let us thus be sensitive to God's call and not miss this opportunity. God calls us every moment. We only need to give Him time.

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