Saint Augustine

Feastday: August 28

Click for a message from Saint Augustine

If you’ve made a few bad decisions and have done some things you wish you hadn’t; don’t worry. It’s not too late to be a saint.

Born Aurelius Augustinus in 354, Saint Augustine began his life in Tagaste [some sources spell it Thagaste] in northern Africa where Algiers is today. His father, Patricius, was a Roman official and land owner. Although Patricius was a pagan, when he was in forties he married Monica who was 18 and a Christian. In his later years, Patricius became a Christian, but it was Monica who would have the most influence on her son’s life.

Augustine’s family was not wealthy, but farming was important. So to own land and raise food from it was helpful no matter how modest the holdings. Augustine was not a very good student. This probably had less to do with his intelligence and more to do with his lack of interest. Augustine was far more interested in his friends and playing with them than he was in his school work. He received frequent punishment from his teachers for delivering incorrect answers. Then at last, he became interested in Latin.

Patricius recognized his son’s intelligence and made financial sacrifices to educate him and lead him to a career in academics. Patricius was sure that with a good education, Augustine would marry well and also receive a government post. But poor health prevented him from realizing the dream his father had for him. Instead, he went to Rome as a private teacher, but his students’ lack of respect and interest in learning frustrated him. (Perhaps they reminded him too much of himself in his youth!) So, he went to Milan where he found learning and teaching to be more to his liking.

All the while, Monica had been praying for the conversion of her son to become a Christian. She saw that Augustine was living a life contrary to Christian beliefs and wanted him to get his act together. She had already prayed for Patricius and his mother, who both actually converted in 370. But in 371, Augustine’s father died. It would take another 16 years for Monica’s prayers for Augustine to be answered, and even so she would die during the time Augustine was preparing for baptism.

In Milan, Augustine met Bishop Ambrose, a famous Catholic thinker, teacher, and lecturer. It was due in large part to Ambrose’s explanations and teachings that Augustine decided that he would join the Christians and become a Catholic.

There was no doubt any more that Augustine was a very intelligent man. He wrote many works that are still a foundational part of our Catholic heritage. Some of the things he helped people understand included how to have a spiritual relationship with God, a explanation of the Trinity, God’s grace, original sin, free will and redemption. He developed a Christian philosophy of history called City of God shortly after the fall of the Roman empire. In the book, he tried to explain the difference between an earthly city and the eternal city that we will live in with God. His works to this day, still help Catholics understand life with God and his life reminds us that God is very patient with his children.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition

Grade 2, chapter 3

Grade 3, chapter 14

Grade 4, chapter 17

Grade 5, chapters 1 and 3

Grade 6, chapter 26

Junior High, Morality, chapters 1 and 12

Junior High, Mystery of God, chapters 1, 2 and 12

Junior High, church History, chapter 5

Connecting to Faith First®

Grade 3, chapter 13

Grade 4, chapter 17

Grade 5, chapter 3

Junior High, Creed and Prayer, chapters 1, 2 and 22

Junior High, Liturgy and Morality, chapters 16, 20 and 22