Ambrose who played the proximate role in St. Augustine’s conversion. The
decision to convert came in August 386. In April, 387, in the presence of
his mother and son, St. Augustine received baptism at the hands of St.
Ambrose. Only a few months later, St. Monica was to die after sharing the
famous ecstasy of Ostia with her now converted son.
One must never underestimate the role of St. Monica. For sixteen years she
persevered in prayer for her son’s conversion to Catholicism and the
regulation of his relationship. But even she had no idea that her
perseverance would bring forth not only a conversion, but also a bishop, a
confessor and defender of the Faith, a Father and Doctor of the Church and
foremost above all, a Saint.
After his mother’s death, St. Augustine returned to Africa. Three years of
monastic life in Tagaste (during which Adeodatus died) was followed by
ordination to the priesthood in 391. In 395, St. Augustine was consecrated
co-bishop of Hippo by Bishop Valerius. A year later he was bishop of
Hippo in his own right.
As bishop, besides the daily duties of administering his diocese, directing
his clergy, and instructing and sanctifying his people, St. Augustine used
his pen to author the largest surviving Patristic corpus of letters and
sermons. His Confessions and The City of God will always remain two of
the greatest literary treasures of Christianity. His De Trinitate is the most
important of his dogmatic works. He also authored a Rule for religious life
and combated all the major heresies of his day, in particular Manicheism,
Arianism, Donatism and Pelagianism. He also dealt with exegesis,
mathematics, aesthetics, music, grammar and poetry.
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.
Extracts
Sermons (Inter 391 - 430 AD):
57, 7
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