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LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE TANAUAN
A. From Birth to Conversion (354-386)
Augustine was born on November 13, 354 at Thagaste where the population was mostly Berber stock. His mother, Monica, was a fervent Christian. Patricius, his father was a pagan who was a small landholder and town councilor. Despite the family's limited resources, he provided his son with all that was neede for his good education. He had a brother, Navigius and a sister whom tradition called Perpetua. He was Africa in descent, yet Roman in culture, education and language. He studied at Thagaste, Madura and Carhage. He taught rhetoric at Carthage, then at Rome and Milan. He was a master of the Latin language and culture yet not fluent in Greek. He knew little or no Punic. He was brought up a Christian. In intention, he always remained one.
At 19, reading Cicero's Hortensiius, he was converted to the love of wisdom, which, disappointed by his reading of the Scriptures, he sought among the Manichees to whom he adhered for nine years. Having been disillusioned by the weakness of the Manichean system, he turned to skepticism. When in Milan, aged 32, he began the return-journey through St.Ambrose's preaching on the Catholic interpretation of the Scriptures. He overcome skepticism by accepting the authority of the Church. He overcame his materialism by discovering, with the help of Platonism, the true notion of evil. He overcame his naturalism and the problem of meditation by reading St.Paul and recognizing Jesus Christ as Mediator of grace and Redeemer.
Thus his return to the Catholic faith was complete. Yet his problem was how to live the Christian ideals. After struggles, he chose to abandon all wordly aspirations including marriage and consecrated himself totaly to that ideal.
B. From Conversion to Priesthood (386-391)
Augustine withdrew to Cassiciacum (probably modern-day Cassago Brianza), returned to Milan the following March, follwed Ambrose's catechism and was baptized by him on the night of Holy Saturday,April 24-25, 386.
While planning to return to Africa, with his family to carry out the "holy aim" of living together in God's service, Monica died at Ostia. Thus, he returned to Rome and spent 8-10 months interesting himself in monastic life.
Returning to Africa, he settled at Thagaste where "together with those who were united to him he lined for God and instructed those present and absent through discourses and books" (Possidius).
C. From Priesthood to Episcopate (391-396)
Augustine went to Hippo Regius "to look for a place to find a monastery and live with my brother"(Sermon 355,2). There he was surprised by the priesthood, which he reluctantly accepted as God's wish. As he had planned, he founded a monstery where he lived as priest and monk. In ascesis and study, following the ways and rules established at the time of the Apostles (Possidium 5).
D. From Episcopate to Death (396-430)
Augustine's pastoral activities comprised:(1) the church of Hippo: preaching (2 times a week - Saturday and Sunday, often on several consecutive days or even 2 times a day) "audientia episcopalism", care of the poor and orphans, training of the clergy, organization of male and female monasteries, administration of church property(not enjoyed but submitted to0, visiting the sick;(2) the church of Africa: participation in annual councils, frequent journeys in response to colleagues' invitations or ecclesiasticals' necessity;(3) the universal church: dogmantic controversies against Manichees, the Donatists and the Pelagians.
Augustine died on August 28, 430. History tells that a group of African bishops took the body of Augustine with them while fleeing from the Vandals. It was deposited in Sardinia on payment of gold equaling the weight of Augustine's body. Aking of Lombardy brought it to Pavia where it was buried in the Church of Ciel D'oro. A relic of his right forearm is retained in the cathedral of Hippo,present-day Annaba.