Saint Augustine is one of the Catholic Churches greatest saints. He is an esteemed writer and philosopher who’s works are a fundamental part of Western Civilization. The Confessions by Saint Augustine, commonly known as Augustine of Hippo, is one of histories most moving autobiography’s. It tells the story of Saint Augustine’s life and gives an in detail account of his trials and tribulations that ultimately lead him to Christianity. There are several interesting and important aspects of this book, but I am going to talk about the specific events that stuck out to me in particular.
A popular event in the Confessions and one that has much symbolism is the stealing of the pears from the pear tree. Here Saint Augustine recalls one of the many sinful times in his youth and how his motive was to enjoy the thrill of doing something wrong. “My desire was to enjoy not what I sought by stealing but merely the excitement of thieving and doing of what was wrong.” [1] Saint Augustine had no need for the pears whatsoever and states that he had better pears of his own.
Saint Augustine and his group of trouble-makers stole a large number of pears and, once the deed was complete, simply threw them to the pigs. It was not their intention to eat them, they were not even hungry, but to steal simply for the thrill. Saint Augustine states that if he had not been with his companions, then he never would have stolen the pears. “Yet had I been alone I would not have done it—I remember my state of mind to be thus at the time—alone I would never have done it. Therefore my love in that act was to be associated with the gang in whose company I did it.” [2]
Saint Augustine's desire was to uproot authority and bask in the thrill of doing that which is wrong. “I had no motive for my wickedness except wickedness itself. It was foul, and I loved it. I loved the self-destruction, I loved my fall, not the object for which I had fallen but by itself.” [3] He goes on to explain the beauty that one can find in physical objects such as gold, silver, and jewelry and the experience of how the body can become attached to objects upon touching them. When this is not in and of itself an evil, it can easily become something evil if it is placed above the Lord. “Yet in the acquisition of all these sources of social status, one must not depart from you, Lord, nor deviate from your law.” [4]
Another important event in the Confessions is when Saint Augustine’s friend dies. His friend (who remains nameless) grew up with him and went to school with Augustine as well. Saint Augustine describes this friendship as: “It had been sweet to me beyond all the sweetnesses of life that I had experienced.” [5] After a year of close friendship, Augustine’s friend became sick with fever and fell into unconsciousness. It was during this time that he was baptized and soon hereafter awoke from his unconsciousness. Augustine never left his side during his friend’s sickness. When Saint Augustine’s friend awoke, Augustine began to joke about the baptism that had taken place, claiming that it had meant nothing since his friend was a Manicheen like Augustine.
However, Saint Augustine’s friend reacted in a way he had not foreseen. “He was horrified at me as if I were an enemy, and with amazing and immediate frankness advised me that, if I wished to be his friend, I must stop saying this kind of thing to him.” [6] Shortly after this event Augustine’s friend became ill again and died. This greatly shook Saint Augustine’s life and forced him to rethink everything. “I had become to myself a vast problem, and I questioned my soul ‘Why are you sad, and why are you very distressed?” [7]
Another interesting aspect of the Confessions is the story of a student of Saint Augustine when he was teaching in Carthage. His name was Alypius and everything changed for him when he went to Rome. He had traveled to Rome to study the law and Rome was famous for its’ gladiatorial spectacles. Alypius was greatly against this show of brutality and refused to attend the gladiator fights, even though his friends greatly desired him too. However “some of his friends and fellow-pupils on their way back from a dinner happened to meet him in the street and, despite his energetic refusal and resistance, used friendly violence to take him into the amphitheatre during the days of the cruel and murderous games.” [8]
Alypius informed his friends that he would never be overcome by the games and covered his eyes upon arrival. However, covering his eyes would not be enough to block out the vicious enticement of the gladiatorial games. “A man fell in combat. A great roar from the entire crowd struck him with such vehemence that he was overcome by curiosity. Supposing himself strong enough to despise whatever he saw and to conquer it, he opened his eyes.” This was a grave mistake. Alypius was overcome by the sight, sound, and energy of the horrific spectacle before him. “As soon as he saw the blood, he at once drank in savagery and did not turn away. His eyes were riveted. He imbibed madness. Without any awareness of what was happening to him, he found delight in the murderous contest and was inebriated by bloodthirsty pleasure.” [9] Thus Alypius was turned into one of the savage spectators he claimed that he would never become.
The stealing of the pears, the death of Saint Augustines friend, and the perversion of his student to violence and destruction are just some of the magnificent stories in the Confessions. All of these events attributed to Saint Augustines conversion and should remind each of us that there is always hope for those who are lost. After his conversion, Saint Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose, ordained a priest in 391, and became bishop at Hippo.
[1] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 29.
[2] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 33.
[3] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 29.
[4] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 29.
[5] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 57.
[6] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 58.
[7] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 100.
[8] Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. Page 101.
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