Augustinus

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ST., a renowned father of the Christian Church, was born at Tagaste, in Africa, in 354, his mother, Monica, being a Christian, his father, Patricius, a pagan. His parents sent him to Carthage to complete his education, but he disappointed their expectaure. A tions by leading a life of pleasure. book of Cicero's led him to study philosophy; but dissatisfied with this, He left he joined the Manichæans. them after nine years and went to Here St. Rome and then to Milan. Ambrose, bishop of the city, and the reading of St. Paul converted him to the Christian faith. After preparation for baptism he received it from Ambrose, being then in his 33d year. He returned to Africa, sold his property, giving the proceeds to the poor, and became assistant to the bishop of Hippo, succeeding to the see in 395. Of his various works his "Confessions" is most secure of immortality. He died Aug. 28, 430, while Hippo was besieged by the Vandals. He was a man of great enthusiasm, self-devotion, zeal for truth, and powerful intellect, and, though there have been fathers of the Church more learned, none have wielded a more powerful influence. His writings are partly autobiographical, partly polemical, homiletic, or exegetical. The greatest is the "City of God" ("De Civitate Dei"), a vindication of Christianity. AUGUSTINE, or AUSTIN, ST., the Apostle of the English, flourished at the close of the 6th century, was sent with 40 monks by Pope Gregory I. to introduce Christianity into Saxon England, and was kindly received by Ethelbert, King of Kent, whom he converted, baptizing in one day. In 10,000 of his subjects ects acknowledgment of his tact and success Augustine received the archiepiscopal pall from the Pope, with instructions to establish 12 sees in his province, but he could not persuade the British bishops in Wales to unite with the new English Church. He died in 604 or 605.