Read more
Informationen zum Autor Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. Klappentext In The Confessions, Saint Augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began. Written A.D. 397, The Confessions are a history of the young Augustine's fierce struggle to overcome his profligate ways and achieve a life of spiritual grace.The first ten books of the work relate the story of Augustine's childhood in Numidia; his licentious and riotous youth and early manhood in Carthage, Rome, and Milan; his continuous struggle with evil; his attempts to find an anchor for his faith among the Manicheans and the Neoplatonists; the untiring efforts of his mother, Saint Monnica, to save him from self-destruction; and his ultimate conversion to the Christian faith at the age of thirty-two.The last three books of The Confessions, unrelated to the preceding account of Saint Augustine's early life, are an allegorical explanation of the Mosaic account of Creation. Throughout the work, the narrative, addressed to God, is intersperse with prayers, meditations, and instructions, many of which today are to be found in the liturgies of all sects of the Christian Church.The Confessions constitute perhaps the most moving diary ever recorded of a soul's journey to grace. Appearing midway in Saint Augustine's prodigious body of theological writings, they stand among the most persuasive works of the sinner-turned-priest who was to exercise a greater influence on Christian thought than any of the other Church fathers.
About the author
Saint Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 in North Africa and was deeply influenced by his mother, Monica, who was a devout Christian. He studied rhetoric in Carthage, where he led a hedonistic lifestyle and explored different philosophies, notably Manichaeism. His journey to Christianity was gradual, marked by intense self-reflection and eventual conversion in Milan under the influence of Saint Ambrose.After his baptism, Augustine returned to North Africa, where he became a priest and later the Bishop of Hippo. His writings, including The Confessions of Saint Augustine and The City of God, became foundational texts for Christian theology and Western philosophy. As bishop, he engaged in debates on doctrine and contributed significantly to developing doctrines like original sin and divine grace.Augustine's legacy is vast; his introspective approach shaped Christian thought and has had a lasting influence on Western philosophical and theological traditions. He is revered as one of the greatest Church Fathers and is celebrated for his insights into the human condition. His works remain widely read, offering profound reflections on faith, morality, and human purpose.
