The Confessions of Saint Augustine
Translated and with an Introduction and Notes by John K. Ryan
The Confessions of Saint Augustine is a classic among classic books. Autobiography, theology, philosophy, drama, passionate prayer: this book has them all. It is autobiographical in nature, as it is told in the first person, however Augustine goes far deeper than simply relating the events of his life to the reader. I could not state it better than John K. Ryan does in his introduction to this book: "No writer ever went deeper, into his own character and deeds, passed keener judgments on himself, or revealed himself more fully and more humbly than others."[1]
It is important to consider the translation for Augustine's Confessions. In researching various possibilities, I found the most recommended version seems to be that of Frank Sheed. Peter Kreeft recommended, "Only once have I ever encountered a translation that made such a difference, that so opened up for me a previously closed book. That was Frank Sheed’s translation of Augustine’s Confessions, which I found to be as living as molten lava."[2] However, based on the recommendation of a friend, I decided on John K. Ryan's translation. The style of writing is clear and inspirational, and Ryan's edition includes a well-done Introduction, a timeline of Augustine's life, extensive reference notes, bibliography, index, and a study guide from the publisher.
The work is broken up into 13 books which are made up of short and shorter chapters. Books one through four deal with his early life. In it Augustine tells of his childhood, his sixteenth year, his later youth and the time he spent as a Manichean. In books five through eight, his spiritual struggles of early adulthood come to light in Rome and Milan, his years of struggle, his wrestling with different thoughts and beliefs, and his acceptance of grace and faith. His story culminates in book nine with his conversion and a great tribute to his mother, Saint Monica. He then goes on with philosophical and theological ponderings and discoveries, speaking on memory, time and eternity, form and matter, and the creation of the world.
Augustine speaks of a number of characters in his book, and I found his focus on two aspects particularly notable. First are his friendships. He speaks in book 4 of the death of a dear friend, whom he played games with as a boy then grew to love dearly in his later youth. Later, in book 6, he dedicates four chapters to another friend, Alypius. Through these chapters, Augustine's deep friendships come through loud and clear and made me long for such in my own life.
The other moving tribute is to Augustine's mother, Monica. He dedicates no less than nine full chapters, along with parts of other chapters in various books, to her, His thoughts and feelings about his mother and her undeniable role in his life shines forth with undeniable clarity and moving rhetoric.
Not only is Augustine's candid self-assessment extraordinary, but also the style of the book. He writes it as one long 338 page prayer to God. In addition, the entire work is laced with scriptural quotes and references. While reading it, I got the impression that these biblical phrases are just part of how Augustine thinks and writes. There is no sense that he works at all to "fit" the scripture into the work, but rather they are just part of the natural flow of his discourse.
From the start, this is a book about searching for answers. In fact, the most famous quote from the saint is found in Book one, Chapter one, Paragraph one: "[O Lord], you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." This book is the story of a man frantically searching to end that restlessness. For anyone looking for extensive and deep - as well as prayerful - theological and philosophical insights of Catholic Christian thinking, Confessions is a must-read. In a "conversation" with God, Augustine takes the reader into questions, ponderings and musings that will stretch the mind, the heart and the soul.
[1] John K. Ryan, introduction to The Confessions of Saint Augustine, (New York: Image, 2014), xvii.
[2] Brandon Vogt, "The Best Translation of St. Augustine’s 'Confessions'," Brandon Vogt: Timeless Truths, New Media (blog), 06 April 2016, at brandonvogt.com.
Product Details
Image Credits
It is important to consider the translation for Augustine's Confessions. In researching various possibilities, I found the most recommended version seems to be that of Frank Sheed. Peter Kreeft recommended, "Only once have I ever encountered a translation that made such a difference, that so opened up for me a previously closed book. That was Frank Sheed’s translation of Augustine’s Confessions, which I found to be as living as molten lava."[2] However, based on the recommendation of a friend, I decided on John K. Ryan's translation. The style of writing is clear and inspirational, and Ryan's edition includes a well-done Introduction, a timeline of Augustine's life, extensive reference notes, bibliography, index, and a study guide from the publisher.The work is broken up into 13 books which are made up of short and shorter chapters. Books one through four deal with his early life. In it Augustine tells of his childhood, his sixteenth year, his later youth and the time he spent as a Manichean. In books five through eight, his spiritual struggles of early adulthood come to light in Rome and Milan, his years of struggle, his wrestling with different thoughts and beliefs, and his acceptance of grace and faith. His story culminates in book nine with his conversion and a great tribute to his mother, Saint Monica. He then goes on with philosophical and theological ponderings and discoveries, speaking on memory, time and eternity, form and matter, and the creation of the world.
Augustine speaks of a number of characters in his book, and I found his focus on two aspects particularly notable. First are his friendships. He speaks in book 4 of the death of a dear friend, whom he played games with as a boy then grew to love dearly in his later youth. Later, in book 6, he dedicates four chapters to another friend, Alypius. Through these chapters, Augustine's deep friendships come through loud and clear and made me long for such in my own life.The other moving tribute is to Augustine's mother, Monica. He dedicates no less than nine full chapters, along with parts of other chapters in various books, to her, His thoughts and feelings about his mother and her undeniable role in his life shines forth with undeniable clarity and moving rhetoric.
Not only is Augustine's candid self-assessment extraordinary, but also the style of the book. He writes it as one long 338 page prayer to God. In addition, the entire work is laced with scriptural quotes and references. While reading it, I got the impression that these biblical phrases are just part of how Augustine thinks and writes. There is no sense that he works at all to "fit" the scripture into the work, but rather they are just part of the natural flow of his discourse.
From the start, this is a book about searching for answers. In fact, the most famous quote from the saint is found in Book one, Chapter one, Paragraph one: "[O Lord], you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." This book is the story of a man frantically searching to end that restlessness. For anyone looking for extensive and deep - as well as prayerful - theological and philosophical insights of Catholic Christian thinking, Confessions is a must-read. In a "conversation" with God, Augustine takes the reader into questions, ponderings and musings that will stretch the mind, the heart and the soul.
[1] John K. Ryan, introduction to The Confessions of Saint Augustine, (New York: Image, 2014), xvii.
[2] Brandon Vogt, "The Best Translation of St. Augustine’s 'Confessions'," Brandon Vogt: Timeless Truths, New Media (blog), 06 April 2016, at brandonvogt.com.
Product Details
- ISBN-10: 0385029551
- ISBN-13: 978-0385029551
- Paperback: 464 pages
- Publisher: Image Edition 2014
- Available on Amazon
Image Credits
Darren Booth, cover illustration, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZjC28qg9L._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
Carlo Crivelli, "St. Augustine," painting, c. 1487, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carlo_Crivelli_-_St._Augustine_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Ary Scheffer, "Saints Augustine and Monica," painting, 1846, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Saint_Augustine_and_Saint_Monica.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment