Saint of August - St Augustine of Hippo

Saint Augustine, philosopher and theologian, is one of the most important early Church Fathers. Born in 354 in Numidia (in present day Algeria), he was a member of the Berber tribe, an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa. Although his mother, Saint Monica, was a devout Christian, Augustine embraced Manicheanism as a young man. In his youth he embraced a hedonistic lifestyle. Aged 17 he began a fifteen-year relationship with a young woman who gave birth to his son. In 386 Augustine was converted to Christianity. He was strongly influenced by Saint Ambrose, who baptised Augustine and his son in 387. Following his son’s death, Augustine turned his house into a monastic foundation. Ordained a priest in 391, he was Bishop of Hippo from 395 to his death in 430, working tirelessly to convert the local people to the Christian faith. Saint Augustine was a famous preacher and preached between 6,000 and 10,000 sermons. He wrote more than 100 works including refutations of heresies, texts on Christian doctrine, exegetical works, sermons and letters. His most important works include The City of God, On Christian Doctrine and his autobiography Confessions. Saint Augustine made a central contribution to developing the doctrines of original sin, divine grace, free will, the Holy Trinity, the Apostolic Succession, the perpetual virginity of Our Lady and just war theory. His feast day is celebrated on 28 August.

Written by Paul Cavadino