Saint’s Corner - St. Augustine

      Saint Augustine was born the son of a pagan father who converted on his death bed, and of Saint Monica, a devout Christian. Raised a Christian, he lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. He became a Manichaean which taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. Augustine finally broke with the Manichaeans and was converted by the prayers of his mother and the help of Saint Ambrose of Milan, who baptized him.

      On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. Saint Augustine was a monk, priest, preacher and bishop of Hippo in 396. He founded religious communities, fought Manichaeism, Donatism, Pelagianism and other heresies. He oversaw his church and his see during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals. He was named a Doctor of the Church, and died on August 28, 430. His thinking can be summed up in a line from his writings: Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.