August 28 | Saint Augustine

Born: November 13, 354

Died: August 28, 430

Nationality: Algerian

Vocation: Priest

Attributes: Holding a burning heart, Writing

Patronage: Brewers, Printers, Theologians

Canonization: 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII

St. Augustine was born in Thagaste, modern day Algeria in 354 to a devout Catholic mother, Monica, and a pagan father. Monica wished to baptize Augustine but his father would not allow it. As a young man, Augustine went to Carthage to receive a thorough education while indulging in a worldly and debaucherous lifestyle, that included having a son out-of-wedlock. This greatly distressed his mother who wept and prayed for his conversion.  

After studying with many schools of thought including Manichaeism, Augustine could not find a worldview that truly made sense. He then encountered St. Ambrose of Milan, and after hearing his sermons he was inspired to consider the truth of the faith. The process was long and he continued to struggle with doubts, until one day he was sitting under a fig tree and he heard a child chanting, “pick up and read.” Augustine hurried to Scripture and he opened to the verse reading: “Not in riots and drunken parties, not in eroticism and indecencies, not in strife and rivalry, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in its lusts” (Romans 13:13-14). 

This definitive moment moved Augustine to dedicate himself to the Lord and he was baptized alongside his son, Adeodatus, to the delight of his mother. Augustine soon became a priest and began writing many works in defense of the faith, including Confessions, his autobiography, and City of God. Augustine defended the faith with composure and knowledge due to his background in philosophy. 

After some time, Augustine was elected Bishop of Hippo against his will. He continued to preach and defend the faith for the rest of his life, becoming one of the most influential theologians in Church history. St. Augustine is a doctor of the Church and continues to have profound theological influences to this day.

St. Augustine of Hippo, pray for us.