Life of St. Augustine PPT

THEOLOGY I DIVINE REVELATION  UNIVERSITY PRAYER Lord God of all wisdom, We pray for La Consolacion University Philippines that she may be faithful to the purposes of our foundresses, Mo. Rita and Venerable Mo. Consuelo. Continue to promote the search for truth and knowledge a...

THEOLOGY I DIVINE REVELATION  UNIVERSITY PRAYER Lord God of all wisdom, We pray for La Consolacion University Philippines that she may be faithful to the purposes of our foundresses, Mo. Rita and Venerable Mo. Consuelo. Continue to promote the search for truth and knowledge and be an inspiration for others who follow. May we be a community of scholars sharing this ambition, caring for one another, and being loyal to the truth revealed to us as your disciples. AMEN. Theology 1 Life of St. Augustine An Overview LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. discover the love of God in the life and conversion of our great father, Saint Augustine of Hippo; 2. determine ways on how to apply in real-life situations the lessons taught by the experiences of St. Augustine; 3. recognize the value of the human person despite failure and imperfection. Excerpt Analysis - Saint Augustine’s “Confessions”; and 4. analyze a selected excerpt from Saint Augustine’s “Confessions” and identify key themes, literary devices, and the author's perspective. LESSON OVERVIEW o Core Values: Saint Augustine's Take Who is St. Augustine? o Early Life and Conversion o Bishop of Hippo o Major Works and Theological Contributions CONFESSIONS, BOOK 11, CHAPTER 20 “The past is only a memory, the future is only an expectation, but the present is real.” CORE VALUES S A I N T AU G U S T I N E ' S TA K E  Compassion “The heart that is filled with God’s love will overflow with compassion for others.”  Courage “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Standing firm in one’s faith and convictions, even in the face of opposition” Community-oriented “No one can be a good Christian alone. Value of community and the importance of living in harmony with others”  Humility “The more you are proud, the less you will know what humility is.”  Interiority “I sought for myself, and I could not find myself; I sought for You, and I found myself.”  Missionary-Spirit “The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action.” ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO also known as Augustine of Hippo or simply Augustine An influential Christian theologian and philosopher. Born on November 13, 354 AD, in Tagaste (modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria),  Key points about St. Augustine of Hippo  Early Life and Conversion His mother, Monica, was a devout Christian, while his father, Patricius, was a pagan who converted to Christianity on his deathbed. His mother's prayers and influence played a significant role in his later conversion to Christianity. In his early life, Augustine pursued a hedonistic lifestyle, engaging in worldly pleasures and intellectual pursuits.  Early Life and Conversion His mother, Monica, was a devout Christian, while his father, Patricius, was a pagan who converted to Christianity on his deathbed.  Early Life and Conversion St. Augustine's siblings, particularly Navigius and his unnamed sister, played supportive roles in his life, though their influence was not as prominent as that of his mother, St. Monica.  Early Life and Conversion Navigius: Augustine's brother Navigius is described as a pious man who was deeply concerned about Augustine's well-being. Navigius supported Augustine's decision to pursue a life of faith. Augustine's Sister: Augustine's sister, though unnamed in historical records, became a leader of a religious community, Augustine's relationship with her is less documented, but it's known that he corresponded with her and provided guidance for the religious community she led.  Early Life and Conversion St. Augustine did not have a wife in the traditional sense, but he did have a long- term relationship with a woman whose name is not recorded in history. She is often referred to as his concubine or partner, and they lived together for over a decade.  Early Life and Conversion Unnamed Partner: Augustine was deeply in love with this woman, and they had a committed relationship, although they were not married according to Roman law. When Augustine decided to follow a more spiritual life, he ended the relationship, a decision that caused him great sorrow. Adeodatus: Augustine and his partner had a son named Adeodatus, born around 372 AD. The name "Adeodatus" means "given by God." Augustine loved his son dearly and described him as extraordinarily intelligent. Adeodatus was baptized alongside Augustine in 387 AD, shortly before his untimely death at the age of about 17.  Early Life and Conversion In his early life, Augustine pur sue d a h e d o n i s t i c l i fe s t y l e, e ngag i ng i n worldly pleasures and intellectual pursuits. A hedonistic lifestyle is one that prioritizes the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain as the primary or most important goals in life. People who adopt a hedonistic approach seek to maximize their personal enjoyment. Focus on Pleasure Avoidance of Pain Materialism and Consumerism Self-Expression Intellectual Journey Augustine was well-educated and taught rhetoric for some time. Augustine stated that rhetoric is neither good nor bad in itself, but can be used to effectively defend both what is true and what is false.  Intellectual Journey He studied various p h i l o s o p h i c a l s ch o o l s, including Manichaeism, a d u a l i s t i c r e l ig i o n , a n d Neoplatonism, a philosophical system founded on the ideas of Plato.  Manichaeism Manicheans believed that the universe was dominated by two competing forces of good and evil, represented by light and darkness (Dualistic Religion). There were two Principles, the one Good, the other Bad. The Good Principle dwells in the realm of light and is called the Father of Majesty. Opposed to the Father of Grandeur is the King of Darkness. Teaching of Manichaeism Sinfulness is the natural state of human beings and does not stem from Eve and Adam's Fall.  Neoplatonism It is a philosophical system developed by Plotinus, based on the ideas of Plato. Neoplatonism teaches that everything in existence comes from a single, ultimate source called "The One." The One is perfect, beyond all things, and the source of all goodness and reality. Conversion to Christianity Augustine converted to Christianity at the age of 31, influenced by the teachings of Saint Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan. Augustine said, "Ambrose was one who spoke the truth, and preached it well, judiciously, and with beauty and power of expression."  Bishop of Hippo Augustine became a priest and later the Bishop of Hippo Regius (modern-day Annaba, Algeria) in North Africa. He served in this position from 395 AD until his death in 430 AD.  S A I N T AU G U S T I N E ' S MAJOR WORKS A PROLIFIC WRITER THE CONFESSIONS It is an autobiographical account that d e t a i l s A u g u s t i n e ' s e a r ly l i f e , h i s conversion to Christianity, and his philosophical and theological reflections. The Confessions is one of the earliest ex a m p l e s o f a n a u t o b i og r a p hy , influencing the development of this literary genre. ON THE TRINITY This explores the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, seeking to understand and articulate the nature of God as one being in three persona: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persona of the Trinity are equal in power, glory, and eternity. None is greater or lesser than the others. HANDBOOK ON FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE It ser ves as a concise guide to Christian doctrine, emphasizing the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Augustine wrote this work in response to a request from a fellow Christian, Laurentius, who sought a brief summary of Christian teachings. ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE It is a compr ehensive guide for i n t e r p r e t i ng a n d t e a c h i ng t h e S c r i p t u r e s, a i m e d a t h e l p i ng Christians understand and communicate their faith more effectively. The work is divided into four, each focusing on different aspects of Christian doctrine and hermeneutics. ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 1. Discovering What to Learn from Scripture 2. Learning to Interpret the Signs of Scripture 3. Interpreting Ambiguous Signs in Scripture 4. Teaching and Communicating Christian Doctrine CITY OF GOD It addresses the crisis of faith among Christians and the criticism from pagans who blamed Christianity for the fall of Rome. Pagans seized the opportunity to blame Christianity for the decline of the Roman Empire. They argued that the abandonment of the traditional Roman gods and the rise of Christianity had angered the deities, leading the city ’s destruction.  Influence and Legacy Augustine's theology had a profound impact on Western Christianity, and his ideas significantly influenced later theologians such as Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther. He emphasized the doctrine of original sin, which posits that all humans inherit the sinful nature of Adam and Eve.  Augustine and Thomas Augustine's View: Believed that original sin is inherited from Adam and Eve, resulting in a fundamentally corrupted human nature. T homas' Perspective: Agreed that original sin is i n h e r i t e d a n d w o u n d s h u m a n n a t u r e, b u t h e emphasized that human nature remains fundamentally good but weakened by original sin, with grace needed to perfect it.  Augustine and Martin Augustine's View: Augustine's doctrine of original sin posited that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam, which affects their actions and ability to choose good without divine's guidance. Luther's Perspective: He heavily borrowed from Augustine's concept of original sin, he believed that without God's guidance, humans are incapable of doing good and are entirely bound by sin.  Feast Day T he feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo is celebrated on August 28th by various Christian denominations. Time for Questions! What kind of lifestyle did Augustine pursue in his early years? What role did Augustine's mother, Monica, play in his life? Why is Saint Augustine of Hippo considered an influential Christian theologian and philosopher?  THANK YOU Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. - Saint Augustine of Hippo