August 28: St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor

Summary

This video celebrates St. Augustine, a pivotal figure in Christian theology, on August 28th. Born in Thagaste, North Africa, he became a bishop known for his profound psychological insights, evident in his seminal work 'Confessions.' A pioneer in autobiography, Augustine's introspective narrative focuses on his spiritual journey rather than historical details. His deep connection with God and his mother, and his role as a working bishop, showcase his dedication and self-awareness. The video invites viewers to emulate Augustine's honest and Christ-centered self-examination.

Takeaways

• 🎉 St Augustine is celebrated on August 28th as a bishop and doctor of the Catholic Church, known for his profound influence on Christian thought.
• 🏆 He is considered the greatest convert after St Paul and is the patron saint of theologians and printers.
• 🧐 St Augustine was a psychologist, theologian, and working bishop, renowned for his introspective writings and deep understanding of the human soul.
• 📚 He authored 'Confessions', the first autobiography, which focused on the inner journey of the soul rather than external events.
• 🌏 Born in Thagaste, North Africa, Augustine's intellectual contributions have had a global impact, shaping Christian thought for centuries.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Augustine had a complex relationship with his mother, Pia, and faced personal challenges, including guilt over past actions and the difficulty of leaving his long-term partner.
• 💡 He was a pioneer in self-reflection and analysis, exploring unconscious motivations and psychological insights long before Freud.
• 📖 Augustine's 'Confessions' is not a traditional autobiography filled with historical details but rather an exploration of his spiritual and emotional journey.
• 💌 Known for his personal letters, he valued deep friendships and was a highly educated scholar who worked closely with the Roman Imperial Court.
• 🛐 In his later life, Augustine took on the role of a working bishop, excelling in pastoral care and serving his community with dedication.
• 🕊 May we emulate St Augustine's self-awareness and commitment to spiritual growth, focusing on our relationship with God and the continual examination of our conscience.

Q & A

Who is St. Augustine and why is he significant in the Catholic calendar?

St. Augustine is a bishop and doctor of the Catholic Church, recognized as one of the greatest Christian thinkers. He is the patron saint of theologians and printers and is known for his profound influence on Christian theology and philosophy.

What is the significance of the date August 28th in relation to St. Augustine?

August 28th is the feast day of St. Augustine, celebrating his life and contributions to the Catholic Church.

What was St. Augustine's early life like, and how did it differ from his later years?

St. Augustine was born in a small Roman village in North Africa to a minor civil official and a headstrong mother. His early life was marked by a quest for self-discovery and fame, which contrasted with his later years as a mature, spiritual father and bishop dedicated to serving his community.

What is the significance of 'Confessions' in the context of St. Augustine's life and work?

'Confessions' is an autobiographical work by St. Augustine, which is considered the first autobiography in Western literature. It focuses on his inner journey and the drama of the soul, rather than historical details.

How did St. Augustine's 'Confessions' change the narrative of autobiographical writing?

St. Augustine's 'Confessions' shifted the focus of autobiographical writing from external events to the internal drama of the soul, making it a significant work in the genre of spiritual autobiography.

What is unique about St. Augustine's approach to self-reflection and analysis in 'Confessions'?

St. Augustine's 'Confessions' is unique in its deep self-reflection and analysis, predating the methods of St. Ignatius and the theories of Freud by centuries. He provides an intimate look into his own psyche, motivations, and struggles.

What role did St. Augustine play in the development of Christian thought and theology?

St. Augustine played a pivotal role in shaping Christian thought and theology. He is considered the saint of the first millennium and has few equals as a Christian thinker. His works laid the intellectual groundwork for the Church until the Scholastics introduced Aristotelian thought.

What were some of the personal challenges St. Augustine faced, as described in 'Confessions'?

In 'Confessions,' St. Augustine discusses personal challenges such as his complex love for his mother, the emotional darkness caused by the death of friends, and the guilt from stealing pears. He also faced the difficult decision to leave the woman he loved for 15 years and had a child with.

How did St. Augustine's relationship with his mother influence his life and work?

St. Augustine's relationship with his mother was complex and deeply influential. His love for her is evident in 'Confessions,' and her death had a profound impact on him. This relationship shaped his understanding of love, loss, and the human condition.

What is the significance of St. Augustine's role as a bishop in his pastoral care?

As a bishop, St. Augustine excelled in his role of pastoral care, serving his community with love and dedication. This phase of his life demonstrated his commitment to the Church and his people, embodying the heavy cross of routine pastoral work.

How did St. Augustine's life and work contribute to his legacy as a saint and theologian?

St. Augustine's life and work contributed to his legacy through his profound theological insights, his pioneering autobiographical writing, and his dedication to pastoral care. His self-awareness and Christ-centered approach to life have made him a revered figure in the Catholic Church.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 St. Augustine: Theologian and Psychologist

This paragraph introduces St. Augustine as a significant figure in the Catholic calendar, celebrated on August 28th. Known as a bishop and doctor of the church, he is the patron saint of theologians and printers. St. Augustine is recognized as one of the greatest converts in Christian history, second only to St. Paul. Born in the Roman village of Thagaste in North Africa, he was the son of a minor civil official and a determined mother. The narrative describes his journey from a young man fascinated by the sea, to a mature spiritual leader who returned to Africa to serve as a bishop. The paragraph emphasizes his contributions to Christian thought, his role as the founder of an entire genre of thought, and his groundbreaking work 'Confessions,' which is considered the first autobiography. It highlights his introspective nature, his analysis of his own soul, and his profound psychological insights, which predate later thinkers like Freud.

05:03

🛐 Augustine's Commitment and Legacy

The second paragraph delves into St. Augustine's life as a working bishop, highlighting his dedication to pastoral care and his intellectual contributions to the Church. It discusses how Augustine's personal sensory privation symbolized a total commitment to God, leading him to excel in his role as a bishop. The paragraph also touches on his request for solitude at the time of his death, which occurred in his 75th year. The narrative concludes with a prayer for emulation of Augustine's self-awareness and focus on Christ, encouraging a continual examination of conscience to prune sin from the soul. The paragraph ends with a musical note, signifying the end of the reflection on St. Augustine's life and legacy.

Keywords

💡St Augustine

St Augustine, also known as Saint Augustine of Hippo, is a significant figure in Christian theology and philosophy. He is recognized as one of the Doctors of the Church and the patron saint of theologians and printers. In the video, St Augustine is portrayed as a great thinker and convert, with a profound influence on the Christian world, and his life and works are central to the video's theme of exploring the lives of saints.

💡Confessions

Confessions is an autobiographical work by St Augustine, which is considered the first autobiography in Western literature. It is a spiritual and psychological exploration of his life and conversion to Christianity. In the video, Confessions is highlighted as a groundbreaking work that changed the genre of autobiography, focusing on the inner journey rather than external events, and is a key example of St Augustine's introspective and self-analytical nature.

💡Patron Saint

A patron saint is a saint who is considered to be a special protector or guardian over a particular area or group of people. St Augustine is mentioned as the patron saint of theologians and printers, indicating his influence and veneration in these fields. The concept of a patron saint is integral to the video's exploration of the significance of St Augustine's life and work.

💡Theologian

A theologian is a person who engages in the study of the nature of God and religious beliefs. St Augustine is described as a theologian in the video, emphasizing his deep intellectual contributions to Christian thought. His role as a theologian is central to understanding his impact on the Christian faith and his status as a Doctor of the Church.

💡Autobiography

An autobiography is a self-written account of a person's life. The video discusses how St Augustine's Confessions is not only an autobiography but also a significant departure from the norm, focusing on the inner drama of the soul rather than external events. This concept is crucial to understanding the video's exploration of St Augustine's unique approach to self-reflection and self-awareness.

💡Psychologist

The term 'psychologist' in the context of the video refers to St Augustine's deep introspection and analysis of his own mind and motivations, which predates modern psychology. He is described as the world's first great psychologist, indicating his pioneering role in self-reflection and understanding the human psyche.

💡Soul

The soul, in the context of the video, represents the inner spiritual essence of a person. The script discusses the drama of the soul as the central theme of St Augustine's Confessions, where he recounts his spiritual journey and the transformation of his soul. This concept is vital for understanding the video's focus on the spiritual and psychological aspects of St Augustine's life.

💡Intellectual Path

The intellectual path refers to the trajectory of thought and philosophical development within a particular field or tradition. In the video, the intellectual path of the Church is mentioned in relation to St Augustine's contributions, indicating how his ideas have shaped Christian thought and paved the way for future theologians and scholars.

💡Pastoral Care

Pastoral care is the spiritual and emotional support provided by religious leaders to their congregation. The video describes St Augustine's commitment to pastoral care as a working bishop, showing his dedication to serving his community and his role as a spiritual father figure.

💡Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires. The video highlights St Augustine's high level of self-awareness, which he used to examine his conscience and prune sin from his soul. This concept is central to the video's portrayal of St Augustine as a deeply introspective and spiritually focused individual.

💡Scholastics

Scholasticism is a method of learning and teaching that was predominant in medieval universities, characterized by a critical and analytical approach to classical and Christian thought. The video mentions the Scholastics in relation to St Augustine, indicating his influence on the development of this intellectual tradition and the introduction of Aristotle to Christian thought.

Highlights

Introduction to St Augustine as a bishop and doctor in the Catholic calendar.

St Augustine is the patron saint of theologians and printers.

He is considered the greatest convert after St Paul.

St Augustine's intellectual influence has spread globally, likened to a long, deep shadow over the entire globe.

Born in the small Roman village of Thagaste in Northern Africa.

His mother, Monica, was a significant influence in his life.

Augustine's journey from a hot-tempered youth to a spiritual father.

He served as the Bishop of Hippo, deeply involved with his community.

Augustine is known as the founder of an entire genre of thought.

His 'Confessions' is the first autobiography, focusing on the inner drama of the soul.

Augustine is recognized as the world's first great psychologist, with self-reflection predating Freud.

He provides deep insights into his own life, including his complex relationship with his mother.

Augustine's 'Confessions' lacks historical detail, focusing instead on his inner journey.

His personal letters reveal a man deeply concerned with relationships, both with God and others.

Augustine's intellectual contributions paved the way for the church's thought until the Scholastics introduced Aristotle.

In his later life, Augustine took on the role of a working bishop, excelling in pastoral care.

His death at age 75 was peaceful, with a request to be alone in his room.

A call for readers to emulate Augustine's self-awareness and Christ-centered examination of conscience.

Transcripts

[Music]

welcome to Saints and feasts of the

Catholic calendar meeting the greatest

men and women who have ever

lived August 28th St Augustine bishop

and doctor 3:54 to 4:30 patron saint of

theologians and printers a psychologist

Theologian and working Bishop is the

greatest convert after St

Paul The Mighty African St Augustine

climbed the heights of thought stood

upright on their peaks and turned toward

Rome and thus spread his long deep

Shadow over the entire Globe as a

Christian thinker he has few equals he

is the saint of the first Millennium

Augustine was born in the small Roman

village of tast in Northern Africa to a

minor civil official and to pias

Headstrong mother tast had no Swagger

its simple people were bent over from

working the land since time immemorial

the great African cities hugged the

Mediterranean Coast far from tast which

was cut off 200 mil Inland when he was a

boy Augustine imagined what the far off

waves of the sea were like by peering

into a glass of water when he was 28 he

descended from his native Hills and

sailed for Rome to find himself God and

holy Fame when he returned to Africa

many years later it was for good the

hot-tempered young African had matured

into a cool headed spiritual father he

was now their Bishop lovingly and

tirelessly serving the open forthright

townsmen that were his natural kin it is

challenging to categorize someone who is

the founder of an entire genre or school

of thought no one knew what an

autobiography was until Augustine wrote

his confessions there was Caesar's

gallic War before and there would be

Jean jaac Russo's confessions later and

there is volume after volume now all

pale Augustine wrote the confessions as

the bishop of Hippo when he was about 43

covering his life up to the age of 33 it

is not a great book due to its density

of historical detail the reader hungers

for facts and is left unsatisfied

whereas autobiographies are normally

stuffed with people places and things

Augustine says almost nothing about his

father only mentioning his death and

passing he does not clarify how many

siblings he has it is often not clear

when or where events occur Augustine is

clearly not concerned in short with his

outward Journey it is the inner drama

the drama of the soul that he wants to

recount the confessions changes the

answer to the perennial question what

really happened from the outside to the

inside Augustine is the author of the

first story of a soul Augustine is the

world's first great psychologist he does

self-reflection and Analysis ages before

St Ignatius and perceives unconscious

motivation centuries before Freud

the painfully self-aware tell you

everything what are you hiding hyper

modern psyche of today is deformed

augustinianism it took a long time for

the future to catch up with him

Augustine does so many things first does

them better and does them as a Catholic

with the historical details left to the

side he self- investigates his early

childhood his unsatisfied father hunger

the emotional Darkness caused by the

death of friends his enduring guilt for

stealing some pears his complex love for

his mother and how hard it is how hard

to leave the woman he has loved for 15

years they have a child together after

all but Augustine must let her go he

must move on and he does she is the

confession mysterious character he never

even gives her

name reading other great theologians one

knows almost nothing about them their

friends or their personal thoughts or

desires reading Augustine you get the

man in full he is concerned with

relationships that of his to God and to

his mother and that of others to himself

he would start his personal letters with

duus kis my dearest friend and he meant

it he was a highly educated scholar a

great letter writer who worked in the

close orbit of the Roman Imperial Court

and a sophisticated thinker who most

opened the intellectual path the church

would walk until the Scholastics of

medieval times introduced Aristotle to

Christian thought when Augustine turned

his head from the beauty of the senses

toward the holy beauty of God his

personal sensory privation was more than

an absence it was a total commitment in

the second phase of his life Augustine

placed the heavy Cross of routine

Pastoral Care on his shoulders he became

a working bishop and excelled at this

role this complex man this highly

fruitful working intellectual asked to

be alone in his room when death finally

came for him in his 75th

year St Augustine May our own

examination of conscience be like yours

continual honest and Christ centered you

achieved a high level of self-awareness

not for for its own sake but to prune

all Sin from your soul may we be as

self-focused and as god-focused as you

were amen

[Music]