The Confessions of St. Augustine

        The Confessions is one of the greatest literary treasures of the Catholic Church. An autobiography composed by the great bishop and father of the Church, Saint Augustine, the work has touched the hearts and souls of millions since its publication. Though it is widely known for its biographical account of Augustine, this book also contains many timeless truths of theology and philosophy. It is indeed one of the most influential writings of Christianity, used by both Catholic and Protestant theologians today. There is fruit for all in this timeless classic, even for the modern mind, which considers religion an antiquated superstition.

 

As a boy, Saint Augustine’s intellectual gifts were evident, and his parents arranged for him to receive proper schooling to attain a position in the government. [1] He left his hometown for Carthage where he became consumed with the sins of the world, having an illegitimate child with his concubine. [2] Augustine would remain in his life of sin for many years, until finally, aided by the countless prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, he would forgo his quest for worldly goods, and live his life dedicated to God. Also, the influence of the holy bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose, was very crucial in Augustine’s conversion. The climactic moment came when he heard a voice telling him to take the Bible and read from it. [3] He opened the book to Romans 13:13, which urges the reader to give up the vices of lust and drunkenness. [4] After responding to this great grace of conversion, Augustine was baptized and lived a life of penance and contemplation, eventually being asked to become a bishop. [5] He was a virtuous shepherd, giving his time and resources to the needy as well as writing many theological tracts against heretical sects. Augustine’s life is a testament to all those who are living a life of sin and debauchery, that with the help of God’s grace, they can transform their lives and be numbered among the greatest of saints.

 As an intellectual, Augustine was a great philosopher and dedicated the last few books of his Confessions to the contemplation and study of philosophy. Augustine started his philosophical works investigating the memory and how we come to know God. He relied heavily on the Platonic understanding of memory and thought the concept of God was within man, for Plato strongly implied that God cannot be known through the five external senses. [6] After exploring many more options, such as the internal senses knowing God or God as a body, Augustine concluded that he had not made any additional progress understanding God. [7] While he did not firmly define anything in this category, these writings are still helpful for the study of theology. Augustine also wrote extensively on time, in order to help explain God’s creative act. For God did not create like man, who uses pre-existing material. Instead, God created from nothing. [8] It was through this divine process of creation that time came to be, thus the Word is outside of time. [9] In all his works, whether biographical, religious, or philosophical, Augustine said that everything was written for the greater glory of God.

Though this book is laced with different aspects of theology from beginning to end, a profound yet often overlooked element is Augustine’s discussion of the theology of music. While praying, Augustine noticed that at times the music from the choir would distract him and cause him to sin. [10] He developed a mixed view of music, at one moment angered by this apparent impediment to growth in the spiritual life, yet at times elated by how it lifted his soul and added sweetness to his prayers. [11] A moment of clarity came when he met Saint Athanasius, who sung the psalms with a slight inflection, closer to speaking then to singing. This technique added sweetness which enhanced the prayer’s beauty, while at the same time being too subtle to cause distraction. Augustine approved of this music in his church, for the sweet sound would serve as a powerful aid in helping weaker souls attain devotion. [12] Sacred music is still one of the many debated theological questions today. I believe that Augustine as a father and doctor of the Church should be one of the authoritative guiding sources in this discussion.

      

Pious Tradition claims the Tantum Ergo was composed by St Augustine and St. Ambrose

      

       Modern man could benefit significantly from a full understanding of Saint Augustine. Two significant parallels illustrate this point. Firstly, Like many today, Augustine was swallowed in a life of sin but desired a greater good. After a lengthy, tenacious struggle, he courageously responded to the call of conversion and never looked back, even being appointed bishop of Hippo. He humbly fulfilled this unsought duty, dedicating all his actions to the greater glory of God. Secondly, he was a great intellectual and investigated many false religions and ideologies before he came to the truth. Though people of today often perceive religion as a fairytale for the uneducated, Augustine’s writings paint a very different picture. He was perhaps the greatest scholar of his time, and wrote extensively on the deep philosophical and theological mysteries of our faith, revealing the riches hidden deep within religion. It is undeniable that his book is timeless, of great value to all generations.

        I highly recommend this book. First, it is the inspiring conversion story of a great sinner. Always searching for the truth, grace flooded his life, leading to a full conversion. His later life is a pattern of holiness to which we can all aspire. He also left us a great treasure of theological and philosophical works. Furthermore, by pruning the techniques used in sacred music, he allowed the great tree of the liturgy to blossom and flower. In all of these ways, Augustine found and expounded upon the great truth, the only truth, which is stored in the Ark of Salvation. It was only there that he could he find happiness. This whole journey is famously and succinctly summarized near the beginning of the Confessions, as an old Augustine reflects, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” [13] I pray that all readers may find this true rest through the contemplation of this timeless classic.  

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 Footnotes:

[1]   R.J. Teske, “Augustine,” in New Catholic Encyclopedia,  ed. Berard L. Marthaler, 2nd ed., vol.1  (Detroit: Gale, 2003), 852.

[2] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, trans.F.J. Sheed (New York: University of Georgia Press, 1989), 179.

[3] Vidmar, John, The Catholic Church Through the Ages, (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2014), 67.

[4] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 179.

[5] Teske, “Augustine,” 858.

6] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 305.

[7] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 228.

[8] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 312.

[9] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 265-266.

[10] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, trans.F.J. Sheed (New York: University of Georgia Press, 1989), 243.

[11] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 243.

[12] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 243.

[12] Augustan, Confessions of St. Augustine, 3.

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