Augustine of Hippo
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Augustine of Hippo “Augustine”, “Saint Augustine”, and “Augustinus” the 20th century in particular come under attack by such redirect here. For other uses, see Augustine (dis- theologians as John Romanides.[13] But other theologians ambiguation), Saint Augustine (disambiguation), and and figures of the Eastern Orthodox Church have shown Augustinus (disambiguation). significant appropriation of his writings, chiefly Georges Florovsky.[14] The most controversial doctrine surround- [15] Augustine of Hippo (/ɔːˈɡʌstɨn/,[1] /əˈɡʌstɨn/,[2] or ing his name is the filioque, which has been rejected by the Orthodox Church.[16] Other disputed teachings in- /'ɔːɡʌstɨn/;[3] Latin: Aurelius Augustinus Hipponen- [note 1] clude his views on original sin, the doctrine of grace, and sis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also [15] known as Saint Augustine, Saint Austin,[4] (/ˈɔːstɨn/ predestination. Nevertheless, though considered to be or /ˈɑːstɨn/)[5] Blessed Augustine,[6] and the Doctor of mistaken on some points, he is still considered a saint, and [7] has even had influence on some Eastern Church Fathers, Grace (Latin: Doctor gratiae), was an early Christian [17] [8] most notably Saint Gregory Palamas. In the Orthodox theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced [15][18] the development of Western Christianity and Western Church his feast day is celebrated on 28 August, philosophy. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern- and he carries the title of Blessed. day Annaba, Algeria), located in Numidia (Roman province of Africa). He is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his 1 Life writings in the Patristic Era. Among his most important works are The City of God and Confessions. 1.1 Childhood and education According to his contemporary, Jerome, Augustine “es- tablished anew the ancient Faith.”[note 2] In his early years, he was heavily influenced by Manichaeism and afterward by the neo-Platonism of Plotinus. After his baptism and conversion to Christianity in 386, Augustine developed his own approach to philosophy and theology, accommo- dating a variety of methods and perspectives.[9] Believing that the grace of Christ was indispensable to human free- dom, he helped formulate the doctrine of original sin and made seminal contributions to the development of just war theory. When the Western Roman Empire began to disintegrate, Augustine developed the concept of the Church as a spiritual City of God, distinct from the material Earthly City.[10] His thoughts profoundly influenced the medieval worldview. The segment of the Church that adhered to the concept of the Trinity as defined by the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Constantinople[11] closely identified with Augustine’s City of God. In the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, he is a saint, a preeminent Doctor of the Church, and the patron of the Augustinians. His memorial is celebrated on 28 August, the day of his death. He is the patron saint of brewers, printers, theologians, the alleviation of sore eyes, and a number of cities and dioceses.[12] Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider him to be one of the theological fathers of the Protestant Reformation due to his teachings on salvation and divine grace. The Saint Augustine Taken to School by Saint Monica. by In the East, some of his teachings are disputed and have in Niccolò di Pietro 1413-15 1 2 1 LIFE Augustine was born in the year 354 AD in the a young woman in Carthage. Though his mother wanted municipium of Thagaste (now Souk Ahras, Algeria) him to marry a person of his class, the woman remained in Roman Africa.[19][20] His mother, Monica or his lover[40] for over fifteen years[41] and gave birth to his Monnica,[21] was a devout Christian; his father Patricius son Adeodatus,[42] who was viewed as extremely intel- was a Pagan who converted to Christianity on his ligent by his contemporaries. In 385, Augustine ended deathbed.[22] Scholars generally agree that Augustine his relationship with his lover in order to prepare himself and his family were Berbers, an ethnic group indigenous to marry a ten-year-old heiress. (He had to wait for two to North Africa,[23][24][25][26] but that they were heavily years because the legal age of marriage was twelve. By Romanized, speaking only Latin at home as a matter of the time he was able to marry her, however, he instead pride and dignity.[23] In his writings, Augustine leaves decided to become a celibate priest.)[41][43] some information as to the consciousness of his African Augustine was from the beginning a brilliant student, heritage. For example, he refers to Apuleius as “the [27] with an eager intellectual curiosity, but he never mastered most notorious of us Africans,” to Ponticianus as “a [44] [28] Greek —he tells us that his first Greek teacher was a country man of ours, insofar as being African,” and brutal man who constantly beat his students, and Augus- Faustus of Mileve as “an African Gentleman.”[29] to tine rebelled and refused to study. By the time he real- Augustine’s family name, Aurelius, suggests that his fa- ized that he needed to know Greek, it was too late; and ther’s ancestors were freedmen of the gens Aurelia given although he acquired a smattering of the language, he was full Roman citizenship by the Edict of Caracalla in 212. never eloquent with it. However, his mastery of Latin was Augustine’s family had been Roman, from a legal stand- another matter. He became an expert both in the eloquent point, for at least a century when he was born.[30] It is use of the language and in the use of clever arguments to assumed that his mother, Monica, was of Berber origin, make his points. on the basis of her name,[31][32] but as his family were honestiores, an upper class of citizens known as honor- able men, Augustine’s first language is likely to have been 1.2 Teaching rhetoric Latin.[31] At the age of 11, Augustine was sent to school at Madau- Augustine taught grammar at Thagaste during 373 and rus (now M'Daourouch), a small Numidian city about 19 374. The following year he moved to Carthage to con- miles (31 km) south of Thagaste. There he became fa- duct a school of rhetoric and would remain there for miliar with Latin literature, as well as pagan beliefs and the next nine years.[35] Disturbed by unruly students in practices.[33] His first insight into the nature of sin oc- Carthage, he moved to establish a school in Rome, where curred when he and a number of friends stole fruit they he believed the best and brightest rhetoricians practiced, did not want from a neighborhood garden. He tells this in 383. However, Augustine was disappointed with the story in his autobiography, The Confessions. He remem- apathetic reception. It was the custom for students to bers that he did not steal the fruit because he was hun- pay their fees to the professor on the last day of the gry, but because “it was not permitted.”[34] His very na- term, and many students attended faithfully all term, and ture, he says, was flawed. 'It was foul, and I loved it. I then did not pay. Manichaean friends introduced him to loved my own error—not that for which I erred, but the the prefect of the City of Rome, Symmachus, who had error itself.”[34] From this incident he concluded the hu- been asked by the imperial court at Milan[45] to provide man person is naturally inclined to sin, and in need of the a rhetoric professor. grace of Christ. Augustine won the job and headed north to take his posi- At the age of 17, through the generosity of his fellow cit- tion in late 384. Thirty years old, he had won the most vis- izen Romanianus,[35] Augustine went to Carthage to con- ible academic position in the Latin world at a time when tinue his education in rhetoric. It was while he was a stu- such posts gave ready access to political careers. Al- dent in Carthage that he read Cicero's dialogue Hortensius though Augustine showed some fervour for Manichaeism, (now lost), which he described as leaving a lasting im- he was never an initiate or “elect”, but an “auditor”, the pression and sparking his interest in philosophy.[36] Al- lowest level in the sect’s hierarchy.[45] though raised as a Christian, Augustine left the church While still at Carthage a disappointing meeting with the to follow the Manichaean religion, much to his mother’s Manichaean Bishop, Faustus of Mileve, a key exponent of [37] despair. As a youth Augustine lived a hedonistic Manichaean theology, started Augustine’s scepticism of lifestyle for a time, associating with young men who Manichaeanism.[45] In Rome, he reportedly turned away boasted of their sexual exploits. The need to gain their from Manichaeanism, embracing the scepticism of the acceptance forced inexperienced boys like Augustine to New Academy movement. Because of his education, Au- [38] seek or make up stories about sexual experiences. It gustine had great rhetorical prowess and was very knowl- was during this period that he uttered his famous prayer, edgeable of the philosophies behind many faiths.[46] At [39] “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.” Milan, his mother’s religiosity, Augustine’s own studies At about the age of 19, Augustine began an affair with in Neoplatonism, and his friend Simplicianus all urged him towards Christianity.[35] Initially Augustine was not 1.3 Christian conversion and priesthood 3 my marriage, my heart, which clave to her, was racked, and wounded, and bleeding.” Augustine confessed that he was not a lover of wedlock so much as a slave of lust, so he procured another concubine since he had to wait two years until his fiancée came of age.