Memorial of Saint Augustine of Hippo, bishop and Doctor of the Church
(II
Thessalonians 3:6-10.16-18; Matthew 23:27-32)
Of all the theologians of the Roman Catholic
Church none has quite the importance and popularity as Saint Augustine of
Hippo. His famous conversion resulted
from the prayers of his mother Monica, the persuasion of his mentor St.
Ambrose, and the voice of a child. As he
was walking one day he heard the voice say, “Take up the book and read.” Seeing a Bible nearby, he opened to the
passage from Romans: “… put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for
the flesh.” He submitted to what God was
calling him, was baptized, and went on to the priesthood and episcopacy.
Augustine
lived in tumultuous times both theologically and historically. Erroneous ideas were challenging established belief. Some argued that the sacraments were of no
use if one committed apostasy during the persecutions. Others thought that one might earn eternal
life through his or her own merits.
Still others held that the Blessed Trinity was one God with three
faces. Augustine countered these ideas
with a rich theology faithful to Scripture and to logic.
In
Augustine’s time the Roman Empire in the West was crumbling. Barbarians from the north invaded Rome and
northern Africa where Augustine resided.
Some blamed Christianity for Rome’s weakness. To defend the faith, Augustine wrote The
City of God. The book explained how
Christianity did not weaken the empire but fortified it with social and
personal virtues. Not just the Church
but the world is indebted to this great saint.
