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St. Augustine and Monica
by Ary Scheffer [1846] |
What a tough
book to begin the new year with! I read The Confessions for WEM project, and
this is my first chapter post of it. It tells Augustine’s early life, his
dwelling in sins, and how he converted to Catholic.
Book 1
St.
Augustine plumbed into his memory to trace how God has poured His grace onto
him since infancy, yet he has sinned since he was born. Later, his baptism was
deferred due to illness, and it exposed him to focus his mind in rhetoric
studies, instead of God's Truth.
Book 2
In his
puberty, Augustine committed adultery and theft, and was pleased in doing them
for the sake of sinning and powerful feeling. His parents could have hindered
him from it by arranging marriage, but they thought study was most
important. Augustine believed God kept silent about his sins, although later
realized that his mother's warnings were actually His.
Book 3
Augustine
studied at Carthage and was amused by Greek plays, Cicero's philosophy, and
Manichean heresy. Meanwhile he kept searching for God, yet he blasphemed Him
and "stayed in the mud" for nine years. His mother had a vision that
he would repent someday, which raised her hope.
Book 4
After
completing his study, Augustine taught the art of rhetoric at his native place
Tagaste; where he took a mistress, and was drawn on astrology; until he was
deeply grieved upon his best friend's death. He then returned to Carthage;
praising and writing a book on the nature of beauty; and was attracted to
Aristotle's The Ten Categories. He
was amused by his own ability in learning and studies, not realizing that God
granted it him to serve Him.
Book 5
At age 29
Augustine met a Manichean bishop: Faustus, at first was amazed at his eloquent
speeches, but soon disappointed as it could not quench his thirst for the
Truth. He was persuaded to pursue teaching career at Rome, where he got a fever
and almost dead, before recovered and found new interest in Platonic
'Academia'. Then he won an audition to teach rhetoric in Italia for Ambrose (a
bishop), where he was attracted to New Testament; and finally became a catechumen
in the Catholic Church.
Book 6
Though he
was closed to Ambrose, he could not disclose his troubled soul to him, and so
kept on believing that God exists, though he couldn’t trust anything that was
immaterialized. Instead he sought eagerly pride and pleasure, together with his
friends Alypius and Nebridius. He was engaged with a girl who was 2 years too
young to be married; and meanwhile lost his mistress, wounded at heart, then
took another mistress, and so plunged deeper in sins.
Book 7
Augustine
still could not accept the concept about God who was not materialized and the
existence of evil, if He is good. Then he learned some quotations from
Scripture from Platonist books and finally found the Truth; that all comes from
God is good, and evil is the bent will of men from God. He even experienced
Plotinian ecstasy, and from there began to know Jesus Christ through study of Paul
the Apostle.
Book 8
Though he
has believed in Jesus Christ, Augustine was still reluctant to leave his
worldly passions, especially sexual desires. He was inspired by the conversion
of Victorinus and Anthony, but still in severe conflict between the good and evil
in his soul; until God finally guided him to a certain passage in the Bible. It
was that that finally fully converted him to Catholic faith, along with his
friend Alypius.
Book 9
Book 9 is
the last part of St. Augustine’s autobiography. He tells us how he resigned
from his rhetoric job; having finally been baptized along with Alypius; then
leaving for Africa together with his mother Monica. There in Ostia, together
with his mother, Augustine experienced an ecstasy while discussing about
eternal life; just several days before Monica died of fever. He mourned over
her death and dedicated a chapter to tell us the story of her life.
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