| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | [[Image:Augustine of Hippo.jpg|right|thumb|St. Augustine]] | | [[Image:Augustine of Hippo.jpg|right|thumb|St. Augustine]] |
| | | | |
| − | '''Saint Augustine''' or '''Augustine of Hippo''' (354-430 A.D.) is considered one of the great fathers of the Christian church, and has been of momentous importance in the development of Christian thought. | + | '''Saint Augustine''' or '''Augustine of Hippo''' (354-430 A.D.) is considered one of the great fathers of the [[Christian]] church, and has been of momentous importance in the development of Christian thought. |
| | | | |
| | == Life == | | == Life == |
| | | | |
| − | Augustine was born in 354 AD at Tagaste in Roman [[North Africa]] to a [[pagan]] father and a Catholic Christian mother. His early adult life, which is described in his autobiographical book ''[[Confessions]]'', was characterized by religious confusion and searching. Although raised as a [[Catholic]] by his mother, he converted to [[Manichaeanism]] soon after leaving home to study at an academy in the city of [[Carthage]]. During this period, he investigated [[astrology]] and cohabitated with a woman who bore him children. He eventually grew discontent with the Manichaeans, however, not least due to the influence of his mother and of [[Saint Ambrose]], the bishop of [[Milan]]. His break with Manichaeanism did not mean an immediate return to the Catholic faith. Instead, he turned at first to the study of [[Neoplatonism|Neoplatonic]] philosophy. | + | Augustine was born in 354 AD at Tagaste in Roman [[North Africa]] to a [[pagan]] father and a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Christian mother. His early adult life, which is described in his autobiographical book ''[[Confessions]]'', was characterized by religious confusion and searching. Although raised as a [[Catholic]] by his mother, he converted to [[Manichaeanism]] soon after leaving home to study at an academy in the city of [[Carthage]]. During this period, he investigated [[astrology]] and cohabitated with a woman who bore him children. He eventually grew discontent with the Manichaeans, however, not least due to the influence of his mother and of [[Saint Ambrose]], the bishop of [[Milan]]. His break with Manichaeanism did not mean an immediate return to the Catholic faith. Instead, he turned at first to the study of [[Neoplatonism|Neoplatonic]] philosophy. |
| | | | |
| | Augustine's ultimate return to [[Catholicism]] took place in 386. In the ''[[Confessions]]'', Augustine describes it as a miraculous conversion following a long period of personal crisis and soul-searching. He relates how, while sitting in his mother's garden in [[Milan]], he heard a voice commanding him to take up a nearby [[Bible]] and read. At random, he read [[Book of Romans|Romans]] 13:13 ("Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying") | | Augustine's ultimate return to [[Catholicism]] took place in 386. In the ''[[Confessions]]'', Augustine describes it as a miraculous conversion following a long period of personal crisis and soul-searching. He relates how, while sitting in his mother's garden in [[Milan]], he heard a voice commanding him to take up a nearby [[Bible]] and read. At random, he read [[Book of Romans|Romans]] 13:13 ("Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying") |
| | | | |
| − | Following his conversion, Augustine was consecrated as priest and returned to Thagaste. In 396, he was elected bishop of the regional capital [[Hippo Regius]]. He died in 430 during the [[Vandal]] siege of Hippo. | + | Following his conversion, Augustine was consecrated as priest and returned to Thagaste. In 396, he was elected bishop of the regional capital Hippo Regius. He died in 430 during the [[Vandal]] siege of Hippo. |
| | | | |
| | == Theology == | | == Theology == |