Augustine of Hippo’s ‘Confessions’ from Sinner to Saint

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth’; and it was so.” Genesis 1:14–18 (NKJV)

My 18-year old Grandson asked me to read Saint Augustine’s book Confessions newly translated by Henry Chadwick and published by the Oxford World’s Classics.

My Grandson, having read the works of Plato, Aristotle, the journals of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and the Old and New Testaments, believed that reading Confessions would bring me enlightenment, and it did.

I  firmly believe that every young man must read this book and contemplate the life of Augustine of Hippo and his journey from sinner to Saint. These are the confessions of a man who went from darkness into the light of the Creator.

This is an important book because you see on August 28th, 430 AD St. Augustine died. This year will be the 1,592nd anniversary of his passing over to the Kingdom of Heaven and his work is still read and contemplated by a young man in America. A young man seeking the truth!

Augustine’s legacy and teachings live on to this very day.

Augustine of Hippo

Augustine was born in the town of Thagaste, now Souk-Ahras in modern day Algeria, on November 13, 354 and grew to become one the most significant and influential thinkers in the history of the Catholic Church. His teachings were the foundation of Christian doctrine for a millennium.

Augustine grew up on the dark side and only when in his 30s did he begin to see the Light of his Creator. His story is the story of many young men in America and around the world today. Growing up in the dark, the lack of the knowledge and understanding of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

In Book I of Confessions Augustine asks,

Do heaven and earth contain you because you have filled them? or do you fill them and overflow them because they do not contain you? Where do you put the overflow of yourself after heaven and earth are filled? Or have you, who contain all things, no need to be contained by anything because what you will you fill by containing it?

It took Augustine many decades to understand that God is omnipotent and created the heaven and earth and seeks to fill the hearts and souls of His creations.

In Book XIII of Confessions Augustine ends his quest for truth with these questions,

What man can enable the human mind to understand this? Which angel can interpret it to an angel? What angel can help a human being to grasp it?

Then Augustine answers his questions,

Only you can be asked, only you can be begged, only you can we knock (Matt. 7: 7-8). Yes indeed, that is how it is received, how it is found, how the door is opened.

We all need to knock on God’s door and he will indeed open it.

Please watch this documentary about the life of Saint Augustine titled A Voice For All Generations by Mike Aquilina. Watch and understand.

Augustine wrote we should wear the armor of light. Therefore, we close with Ephesians 6:10-18 and ask our readers to Wear the Full Armor of God, who is the Light.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.

Amen.

©Dr. Rich Swier. All rights reserved.

---