St Augustine of Hippo

I. INTORDU CTION

Our knowledge, understanding and appreciation of St. Augustine is immeasurably enhance if we know something of the age in which is lived. It is often said that he was a man living on the frontiers of two worlds, the ancient world which was passing away and medieval world which was coming into being.

Today the contemporary pilgrim who seeks to trace Augustine s footsteps will probably have to fly to the port of Annaba formerly call Hippo, then drive ( or take the train) sixty miles to SoakAhras, Algeria known in the days of the Roman empire as Thagaste.

II. IMPORTANT PERSONS IN HIS LIFE

A. His Family

   

Monica - his mother Patricius - his father Navigius - his brother Perpetua - his sister who became Superior of a religious community for women.  Melania (?) - mother of his son  Adeodatus - his son

B. His Friends  Alypius - the brother of my heart  Evodius - member of his Cassiciacum group  Severus - a part of his first community  Possidius - his biographer  Nebridius - his disciple in Italy C. His Inspirers Romanianus - Bishop of Mila Victorinus - famous philosopher of the 4th century.

III. HIS LIFE A. From birth to conversion Augustine was born on Novermber 13, 354 at Thagaste. 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 needed for his good education. He studied at Thagaste, Madaura and Carthage. He taught rhetoric at Carthage, then at Rome and Milan. He was a master of the Latin language and c.ultures yet not in Greek

At 19, reading Cicero s Hortensius, he was converte to the love of wisdom, which disappointed by his reading of Scripture, he sought amon the Manichees, to whom he adhered for 9 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 Scripture. He overcomes skepticism by discovering by accepting the authority of the church. He overcome his materialism by discovering with the help of Platonism

The true notion of evil. He overcome his naturalism and problem of mediation 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 Chritisn ideals. After struggles, he chose to abandon all worldly aspirations, including marriage, and consecrated himself totally to that ideal (Confess, 8, 6, 13-20, 30)

B. From Conversion to priesthood (386-391). Augustine withdrew to Cassisiacum ( probably modern day Cassage Brianza), returned to Milan the following March, followed Ambrose s catechism and was baptized by him on the night of Holy Saturday, April 24-25. 387. while planning to return to Aprica 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 settler at Thagaste where together with those who were united to him he lived for God and instructed those present and absent through discourses and books (Possidius). C. From priesthood to episcopate (391-396) Augustine went to Hippo to look for a place to found a monastery and live iwht his brothers (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 monastery where he lived as priest and monk, following the way and rule established at the time of the Apostles (Possidius)

In 395, he was consecrated assistant bishop. Leaving the lay monastery, which would become a seminary of priests and monks for the whole of Afriaca (Possidius 11). Her withdrew to a clerical monastery of Hippo (Sermon 355 and 356) D. From episcopate to death (396-430) Augustine s pastoral activity:the church of Hippio: 1. preaching (2X a week Sat & Sun. often on several consecutive says or even 2X a day,) audientia episcopalls . Care for the poor and orphan, training of the clergy, organization of mal e and female monasteries,

Administration of church property, visiting the sick 2. The church of Africa: participation in annual councils, frequent journeys in response to colleagues invitations or ecclesiastical necessity 3. The universal church; dogmatic controversies against the Manichees, the Dognatists 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. A king of Lombardy brought it to Pavia where it was buried in the church of Clel D oro. A relic of his right forearm is retained in the Catheral of Hippo, pressent-day Annaba.

THE WORKS OF AUGUSTINE I. BOOKS A. Autobiographical Works

Confessions Revisions

B. PHILOSOPHICAL DOGMATIC WORKS

Dialogues The Trinity The City of God On Christian Belief

C. PASTORAL WORKS
On Marriage and Virginity On Morality and Christian Asceticism

D. EXEGETICAL WORKS Christian Instruction On Genesis On the New Testament On the Old Testament E. POLEMICAL WORKS The Arian Debate The Manichean Debate The Donatist controversy Answer to the Pelagians Answer to the Sampelagians

II. LETTERS 1-270 III. HOMILIES 1-400 IV. EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 1-150

BIBLE OBJECTIVES: 1. To define the nature of the Bible. 2. To memorize the books of the Bible. 3. To stir one s desire in reading the Bible.

I. THE MAIN SOURCES OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH  Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition  Together they form one sacred deposit of the word of God.  The church s doctrines, morals and liturgy and worship are derived from these sources. Sacred Scripture is the fundamental source in proclaiming and educating in the faith because it is a record of the divinely inspired word of God

II. The Bible: Basic Questions A. Ta Biblia  The Bible comes from the Greek Word ta biblia, The Books  A name well-chosen since the Bible is a collection of many individual works, and not a product of a single person. It is really a library.  The NT has 27 books. The OT has 39 books(in Protestant and Jewish editions) or 46 ( in Catholic edition)

B. The Bible as Scripture  What makes the Bible not simply a literature but a Scripture?  In FAITH, we hold it that the Bible contains The Word of God. It is a source and record of God s revelation, of His Self-communication to the world He created and His divine will.

C. Nature of Sacred Scripture  Sacred Scripture is fundamentally different from all other books ever written in human history. 1. It is the inspired word of God. 2. Scripture is the living and active Word of God. 3. It is a story of God s work in the world and the human person gifted with intellect and will. 4. Sacred Scripture is God s word in human words.

1. It is the inspired word of God

1.1This means that God guided the human authors to compose the written accounts of his revelation to his people 1.2. He gave them a special grace called Divine Inspiration . Divine inspiration was not: a. as dictation from God to some human secretary.

b. a division of labor between God and the writer where God wrote some parts of the work and other parts were left to the human author. c. means of forcing writers against their will to record what god wanted them to record. Divine inspiration was the: a. directing influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit under which the sacred writers wrote all that God wanted them to write (DV 11, CFC 85).

1.3. Being a divinely book, Scripture enjoys inerrancy. a. This means that Scripture, teaches firmly, faithfully and without error that truth, which God wants, put into the Sacred writings for the sake of the salvation of all.  Details about age, dates and order of events and the like are not necessarily accurate. They are not the salvific truth, which God is making known (DV 11, CFC 89).

The religious message in Scripture is inerrant. This message communicates the truth that God invites all to share in His divine life through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
1.4. Scripture is inspiring because the word of God uplifts and rouses faith in the lives of people today. It talks about encounters of faith to bring others to faith in God through the Spirit of the Risen Crucified Lord.

2. Scripture is the living and active Word of God. - The word of God is the food of salvation and fountain of life of all people. God speaks to the reader of old. As the psalmist says, that today you would hear his voice, don not harden your hearts (Ps 95:7-8). 3. It is a story of God s work in the world and the human person gifted with intellect and will it continues through the story of alienation from God through sin, God s call of a particular people to be the vehicle of his revelation and blessing and the climax of this saving,

Reconciling, in the person, teaching, actions, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 4. Scripture is God s word in human words. the written words in Scripture are God s words through e words of the human authors. God speaks in Sacred Scripture in human fashion. He chose to be part of the human history by entering history long before the incarnation of the Word in Jesus Christ. Instead of abandoning

Humanity after the fall of Adam and Eve, God patiently guided Adam s descendants back to himself. He chose to show and communicate himself and his will that all people may come to salvation. God communicates in Scripture through tangible signs of images, parables, allegory, poetry, etc.

Biblical Interpretation

St. Paul assert all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation , for correction, and for training righteousness so that everyone who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for very good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

How does the reader and hearers of God s word effectively and adequately interpret Scripture?

Four Senses of Scripture

1. Literal Sense teaches what happen 2. Spiritual Sense: a. allegorical what is to believed b. moral - What should be done c. anagogic - towards what we must hope for (CFC 94)

1. Literal Sense teaches what happen - establishes the historical event and characters in the narrative of a particular Scripture text. Scripture - stories written from an experience of faith. - seek to instruct and bring others to faith - demand a fruitful and meaningful interpretation that goes beyond the narration of past events.

Spiritual Sense: a. allegorical what is to believed - points to Jesus Christ as the Lord our Savior. b. moral - What should be done - the moral sense of the Scripture communicating a sense of urgency exhorts all to respond immediately to God s call to a covenant relationship with him by following Jesus call to discipleship (Mk.2:14)

c. Anagogic - towards what we must hope for (CFC 94) - directs the human person to be sharers in the life of God in Jesus Christ through the Spirit. - brings hope in one s life today and in anticipation of the eternal banquet. - The renewed hope becomes an image that becomes a pattern for Christian way of thing and acting

It is shared with others through story, by way of living and in the celebration of the Church s prayers and sacraments especially the Eucharist.

 The essential part of the

interpretation of Scripture is how the Christian message is performed, appropriated and lives out in one s daily life.

SACRED SCRIPTURE and SACRED TRADITION  Before the system of writing was developed, people has to depend on memorization for the transmission of vital stories and facts that they wanted later generations to know. This practice of handling down stories, beliefs and customs by word of mouth is known as Oral Tradition. With development of writing, such oral traditions were put down in written form.

The books of Scripture grew from tradition and the list of canonical books came from the Church. Guidance from the church id necessary for an authentic and meaningful interpretation of Sacred Scripture. Division of Scripture  Sacred Scripture is divided into two parts: the OT and the NT.
Testament means a covenant that God mas with His people.

I. TWO PARTS OF THE BIBLE A. Old Testament B. New Testament A. Old Testament
 Four Major Parts 1. Pentateuch/ 1st Five Books 2. History Books 3. Wisdom & Poetry 4. Prophecy

1. PENTATEUCH/ 1ST FIVE BOOKS a. Genesis c. Leviticus d. Numbers b. Exodus d. Deuteronomy 2. HISTORY BOOKS a. Joshua b. Judges c. Ruth d. 1 Samuel e. 2 Samuel f. 1 Kings g. 2 Kings h. 1 Chronicles i. 2 Chronicles j. Ezra k. Nehemiah l. Tobit m. Judith n. Esther o. 1 Maccabees p. 2 Maccabees

3. WISDON & POETRY a. Job b. Psalms c. Proverbs d. Ecclesiastes e. The song of Solomon f. The Wisdom of Solomon g. Sirach 4. PROPHECY a. Isaiah d. Baruch g. Hosea j. Obadiah

b. Jeremiah e. Ezekiel h. Joel l. Jonah

c. Lamentations f. Daniel i. Amos m. Micah

n. Habakkuk p. Haggai r. Malachi

o. Zephaniah q. Zechariah

The Old Testament - Is the story of the Israelites in the light of the various covenants God made with them. - It is largely a story of the infidelity of the people, and of God unfailing love for humanity.

- is the collection of sacred of sacred books of the Hebrews written over a period of 9,000 years. - it prepare and announces the coming of a Messiah, The Redeemer. Pentateuch - refers to the first five books of Scripture. - These books express God s love for humanity in creation, the fall and the formation of God s people.

Historical Books - not simply a historical events in ancient times. These books describe how God intervened in the history of his people. - narrate all the difficulties and failures, and triumphs of the Israelites. These books points to God s steadfast love for Israel amidst the people s infidelity and unrighteousness

Wisdom - wisdom books abound with proverbs and simple saying full of wisdom. they also contain the psalms or prayers of praise for the greatness and goodness of God, of thanksgiving and love for God, of trust in God s power in times of fear and anxiety, and of lamentations for one s sins and its effects on the person and other people.

Prophetic Books - the prophet appeared when the nation became weak and eventually fell captive to foreign nations. - expressed God s sense of justice, his anger against deceit, and the oppression of the poor and the weak - Most importantly, prophetic books speak of the coming messiah. These prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became like us in all things but sin.

B. The New Testament 1. Gospels 2. History 3. Pauline and other letters 4. Catholic letters 5. Apocalypse I. Gospels a. Matthew c. Luke

b. Mark d. John

2. History The Acts of the Apostles 3. Pauline and Other Letters a. Romans h. 1 Thessalonians b. 1 Corinthians k. 2 Thessalonians c. 2 Corinthians l. 1 Timothy d. Galatians m. 2 Timothy e. Ephesians n. Titus f. Philippians o. Philemon g. Colossians p. Hebrews

4. Catholic Letters/Epistles a. James b. 1Peter 5. Apocalypse c. 2 Peter a. Revelation d. 1 John e. 2 John f. 3 John g. Jude

New Testaments - presents how God s plan for redemption of all was achieved by sending his own divine Son into the world. God made a final covenant with his people sealed in the blood of Christ (1. Cor. 11:25) - the OT promise of God leads up to the fulfillment of the promise in the NT. The OT can be fully understood only in the light of its fulfillment in the NT.

- The NT contains twenty-seven books written between 50-100 A.D. It was written in Greek, and proclaims Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God became man. The Four Gospels - tell about the life, words and deeds, and passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. - they conclude with the mission which the Risen Jesus gave to all believers to bring the Good News to the whole world and the promise of his abiding presence in disciples.

The Acts of the Apostles - is the continuation of the Gospel of St. Luke. This book describe how the first Christian communities lived and worked, and how they spread the Good News. The Apostolic Letters - the earliest in the NT contains the letter of apostles. Most of them are from St. Paul but some are from James, Peter, John and Jude,

These letters giving practical instructions and words of encouragement concerning Christian faith practices addressed to members of early Christian communities. Revelation - is the last book of the NT. It gives John s vision of the second coming of Christ, the completion of the Kingdom of God.