St. Augustine’s fifteen treatises against Pelagianism would earn him the
title of “Doctor of Grace.” In 416, the Councils of Carthage and Milevi
condemned and excommunicated Pelagius for his teachings. Pope Innocent
I confirmed the decisions, causing St. Augustine to joyfully exclaim,
“Rome has spoken, the matter is now at an end.” Pope Zosimus the
following year reaffirmed the condemnation and Pelagius was expelled
from the western Empire, finding refuge in Constantinople.
Arguably, St. Augustine’s most important work was The City of God,
begun in 413 in response to pagan attacks that the sacking of Rome in 410
by the Visigoths was due to the abandonment of the old pagan gods. For
successive centuries the old gods had preserved Rome; just one century of
Christianity sufficed to bring ruin upon the Eternal City. St. Augustine
argued instead that all the virtues found in the Greeks, Romans and
Hebrews were fulfilled in, and exceeded by Christ. He expressed as well a
philosophy of history, noting that only Christianity could tie together and
relate the whole of human history from the beginning of time to the end of
the world. It is the divine light that illumines the story of humanity. For St.
Augustine, the “City of God” is founded upon love of God and contempt of
self; in contrast, the “City of Man” is founded upon love of self. These
cities exist side by side, moving each to its own destiny.
In 426, St. Augustine went into semi-retirement handing over most of his
episcopal duties to concentrate on his writings. The invasion of the Vandals
marked the end of his prolific life and works. St. Augustine died in Hippo
on August 28, 430, while the barbarians lay siege to the city. His influence
will remain for as long as the Church itself.
Themes for study:
St. Augustine’s early years and his fall into moral degeneracy;
St. Augustine’s Manichean period;
The prayers of his mother, St. Monica, and St. Augustine’s
dramatic conversion;
St. Augustine’s life as a bishop, a confessor and defender of the
Faith, a Father and Doctor of the Church.
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