Saint Augustine

the one of “take up and read”

Who was Saint Augustine?

He was born in the year 354 in Thagaste, in North Africa. As a young man he drifted away from the faith. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
In Milan, in the year 386, he read a page of Saint Paul and his life changed. Saint Augustine, Confessions VIII, 12, 29; vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
He was bishop of Hippo and wrote the Confessions. The Church calls him a Doctor of the Church. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008; Roman Martyrology, August 28

From: Thagaste, in Roman Africa (today Souk Ahras, in Algeria) vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008; vatican.va, Benedict XVI, Angelus of August 27, 2006
Occupation: Teacher of rhetoric; later, priest and bishop vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
Feast day: August 28: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

The path of Saint Augustine

Before Jesus. His mother, Monica, raised him in the Christian faith. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
Before Jesus. He studied in Carthage. There he read a book by Cicero that woke in him a love of wisdom. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
Before Jesus. He drifted away from the faith of the Church and joined the Manichaeans, who presented themselves as Christians. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
With Jesus. In Milan he listened to the sermons of the bishop, Saint Ambrose, and they slowly touched his heart. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
With Jesus. In a garden he heard a voice chanting “take up and read.” He opened the letters of Saint Paul and read. Saint Augustine, Confessions VIII, 12, 29; vatican.va, Benedict XVI, February 27, 2008
With Jesus. Saint Ambrose baptized him at the Easter Vigil of the year 387, in Milan. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
Afterward. In the year 395 he was consecrated bishop of Hippo. He preached, helped the poor, and wrote. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
Afterward. He died on August 28 of the year 430, while the Vandals were besieging Hippo. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008

Words of Saint Augustine

“You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised […] for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Saint Augustine, Confessions I, 1, 1 (in Catechism 30)

At the beginning of his Confessions, speaking to God.

“Late have I loved you, beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you! And see, you were within me and I was outside, and there I sought you” Saint Augustine, Confessions X, 27, 38 (in Benedict XVI, January 30, 2008)

In his Confessions, remembering the years when he looked for God far away.

“How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord? Since in seeking you, my God, I seek a happy life” Saint Augustine, Confessions X, 20, 29 (in Catechism 1718)

In his Confessions, asking himself why he seeks God.

“You had converted me to yourself” Saint Augustine, Confessions VIII, 12, 30 (in Benedict XVI, February 27, 2008)

Remembering the moment in the garden in Milan, after reading Saint Paul.

What they were like

He had a very sharp mind. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
All his life he searched for the truth with passion. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, February 27, 2008
Even when he was far from the Church, he always felt drawn to Christ. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, February 27, 2008

The greatest thing they did

He is the Father of the Church who left the most written works. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
As bishop, he helped the poor and the orphans, and he preached several times a week. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008
Benedict XVI called him the greatest Father of the Latin Church. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008

Not to be confused with

He is a different saint: a monk whom Pope Saint Gregory the Great sent to preach in England, two centuries later. His feast is May 27. Roman Martyrology, May 27

In the Church today

Feast day: August 28, Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (memorial). General Roman Calendar; Roman Martyrology, August 28

In art, recognized by: A book and a pen, for his many writings This is how Christian art depicts him; A burning heart This is how Christian art depicts him

What people ask

Who was his mother?

Saint Monica. She wept much and prayed much to God for her son's conversion. Roman Martyrology, August 27

Did Augustine have a son?

Yes. Before his conversion he lived with a woman, and they had a son, Adeodatus, who died young. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008

What are the Confessions?

His most famous book. He tells his life as a conversation with God, to praise him. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, February 20, 2008

What did he read when he opened the letter of Saint Paul?

A passage from the Letter to the Romans: to leave a disordered life behind and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:13-14

Where is he buried?

In Pavia, Italy, in the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro (Saint Peter in the Golden Sky). vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 16, 2008

His years away As a young man he drifted away from the faith and joined the Manichaeans. vatican.va, Benedict XVI, January 9, 2008 He lived with a woman, and they…

The rest of this page (daily life, failings, little-known facts, for you…) is part of the subscription.

See the map

Who Saint Augustine is connected to

Saint Monica · mother and son
Paul · converted by his letter
Jesus · his search ended in Christ

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

See Saint Augustine on the map