St. Augustine of Hippo (+August 28, 430)

Commemorated on June 15

St. Augustine was born in the city of Thagaste in northern Africa. He was raised by his mother, St. Monica (May 4), and he received his education at Carthage. In the capacity of professor of rhetoric, St. Augustine arrived at Milan, Italy where St. Ambrose (December 7) was bishop. Under the guidance of St. Ambrose, he studied the Holy Scriptures. The Word of God produced in his soul a radical crisis; he accepted holy Baptism, gave all his wealth to the poor and was tonsured as a monk. In the year 391 Valerian, Bishop of Hippo, ordained St. Augustine a priest, and in 395, appointed him vicar bishop of the see of Hippo.

After the death of Bishop Valerian, St. Augustine took his place. During his 35 years as bishop, St. Augustine wrote many works devoted to combating the Donatist, Manichaean, and Pelagian heresies. St. Augustine wrote many works (according to his student and biographer Possidias, the number approached 1030). Of his works the best known are: The City of God (De civitate Dei), The Confessions, 17 Books against the Pelagians and Handbook of Christian Knowledge (The Enchiridion).

St. Augustine was concerned above all else that his writings be intelligent and edifying. "It is better," he said, "for them to condemn our grammar, than for people not to understand."