Feast Day: The enduring legacy of St Augustine
Come August 28, the Catholic Church worldwide will celebrate the remarkable life of Saint Augustine of Hippo, the convert who changed Church history.
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This inspirational educator is one of history's greatest teachers of the Catholic faith, following his dramatic conversion and enduring legacy.
“His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.”
Early life and background
Named Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis at birth, St Augustine was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and philosophy.
St Augustine’s College, Cape-Coast, is named for this great teacher, who was born on November 13, 354 AD at Thagaste (the modern day city of Souk Ahras in Algeria). He died on August 28, 430 AD in Hippo Regius, Algeria.
Except for approximately four years of his life, Augustine of Hippo spent his life in northern Africa.
He was influenced by Plato, Aristotle, Paul the Apostle, Plotinus, Cicero, Origen, Virgil, Mani, among others. After his initial studies in Greek and Latin in Thagaste, he studied Latin and Literature in Madaurus and eventually came under the influence of Cicero.
The story of Augustine's upbringing and conversion is chronicled in his autobiography - ‘Confessions’. In that work, he recounts his birth in 354 to his pagan father Patricius and Catholic mother Monica – later St Monica. His parents' difficult marriage included a dispute over whether to baptise their children or not.
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Life before conversion
He led a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. He is the patron of brewers, and is said to have indulged in wicked living and in false beliefs.
The Encyclopedia Britannica Online states that the defining moment of Augustine of Hippo’s life was the time of his religious conversion to an intense and highly individual form of Christianity. He dated this experience to his time in Milan, and in relation to this, he explained his ensuing career.
The conversion
He was baptised, became a priest, bishop and famous Catholic writer. As part of that transformation, he became very devout and charitable, practising poverty and supporting the poor. He was the founder of religious priests and one of the greatest saints who ever lived.
Catholics believe a saint is someone who lived a holy life and who is already in heaven. Saints are considered role models for people still on Earth and are capable of interceding with God on someone’s behalf when a request for help is made in prayer. Each saint the Church honours responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts.
A Christian at 33, a priest at 36, a bishop at 41: Many people are familiar with the biographical sketch of Augustine of Hippo, sinner turned saint. In his day, he providentially fulfilled the office of prophet.
According to the European Graduate School, the conversion of Augustine of Hippo was most clearly the most significant event in his life, and it marks his evolution as a thinker. The Manichaean beliefs were influential in his youth, and in his conversion, he was unable to attend to their over-arching and inexplicable cosmology.
Works
Two of his works – ‘Confessions’ and ‘City of God’ - stand out above the others for their lasting influence.
The Catholic Encyclopedia contends that of all the works of the holy Doctor, none has been more universally read and admired than these two.
The ‘Confessions’ is the history of his heart. It was not much read in the first centuries of the Middle Ages, but from the 12th century onwards, it has been continuously read as a vivid portrayal of an individual’s struggle for self-definition in the presence of a powerful God.
‘City of God’ was widely read in his time and throughout the Middle Ages, and still commands attention today.
This masterful text was primarily written in refute to the growing desire for a polytheistic resurgence in Rome.
The work reveals his greater shift towards the morality of his religion over the rationality of his philosophy and is a much bleaker view of man’s destiny.
Legacy
James O'Donnell states: “Saint Augustine is remarkable for what he did and extraordinary for what he wrote.”
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He goes on to note that St Augustine’s distinctive theological style shaped Latin Christianity in a way surpassed only by scripture itself. “His work continues to hold contemporary relevance.”
As the Encyclopedia Britannica Online notes, intellectually, he represents the most influential adaptation of the ancient Platonic tradition, with Christian ideas that ever occurred in the Latin Christian world.
It argues that both modern Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity owe much to St Augustine, though, in some ways, each community has at times been embarrassed to own up to that allegiance in the face of irreconcilable elements in his thought.
“For example, he has been cited as both a champion of human freedom and an articulate defender of divine predestination, and his views on sexuality were humane in intent, but have often been received as oppressive in effect.”
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Takeaway
There are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world, according to Vatican figures.
The impact of St Augustine on Catholics and society in general is phenomenal and without doubt has contributed to the growth of the Catholic Church.
Despite all the odds, St Augustine overcame strong heresies, practised great poverty and supported the poor, preached regularly and prayed with great fervour right up until his death. He persevered! This reminds us of the St Augustine’s College motto: “Omnia Vincit Labor ” – Perseverance conquers all.
"Too late have I loved You!" he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion.
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To commemorate this year’s Feast Day, the St Augustine’s Past Students Union (APSU) has scheduled a number of activities.
APSU Feast Day events
Yesterday, APSU organised a public lecture at the Christ the King Parish, Cantonments, on the topic: "Religious Tolerance in Educational Institutions: A legal Perspective".
Mr Kofi Abotsi, the Dean of the GIMPA Law School, was the speaker and Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang the chairman (both are APSUNIANS).
Mass will be held at the Christ the King Parish at 6 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, August 28.
A thanksgiving mass will be held at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Sakumono, at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. There will be the unveiling of a bust in honour of St Augustine at Corpus Christi, followed by an APSU gathering to climax the feast day.
• This article is based on material from the following sources - Catholic Online, the Catholic Encyclopedia, the European Graduate School (Graduate & Postgraduate Studies), the Encyclopedia Britannica Online, John Sheppard, James O'Donnell and the American Catholic Org, among other bodies.