Last year was the 1,650th Anniversary of the birth of St. Augustine of Hippo. He was born on November 13, 354 at Tagaste, North Africa to Monica and Patricius. In fact, Tagaste in Suffern, NY was named after the birthplace of St. Augustine.
Augustine's life was a continual search and it led him to say later that his life between the ages of eighteen and twenty seven caused him "much shame." His search first led him to Manicheism, which was considered a religion, but he soon became disillusioned because the leaders could no longer answer his many questions. After leaving the Manicheans he went to Milan where he became a Professor of Rhetoric. While in Milan he went along with his mother, St. Monica to hear St. Ambrose (by then the Bishop of Milan) preach. Augustine was so astounded by Ambrose's eloquence, and he opened Augustine to the Bible and the Christian faith.
In Augustine's own words (from his book The Confessions) while praying in the garden he heard the words "Take up and read" and from then on his life turned completely around. Augustine began his preparation for Baptism under Ambrose tutorage. Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in 387.
He returned to Tagaste and gathered companions who like himself turned away from the world and embraced Jesus Christ. This group of men embraced poverty, did manual labor and debated questions of faith. This fellowship continues today in many religious institutions including the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
In 391 Christians of Hippo insisted Augustine be ordained a priest and in 395 he became the Bishop of Hippo.He never gave up his community life; this way of life continued until his death on August 28, 430.
Augustine is best known for his writings, 113 books, 207 letters and 500 sermons. The documents of Vatican II and the new Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church quote him more than any other Christian writers. His most famous works are The Confessions, City of God and The Trinity. At Tagaste we're proud to have such a great man as our spiritual father.
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