St. Augustine

As a young man he became involved with a woman in Carthage. Their relationship lasted 13 years and produced a son. He did not marry her because she was of a different social class.

His mother arranged his marriage with a girl of her choice, but this engagement did not culminate in marriage. Meanwhile, he had also developed relations with another woman whom he eventually left.

He became very ill in early 430 and spent his last days in prayer and repentance. He died on 28 August 430.

Augustine was born at Tagaste, in the Roman Province of Africa, to Patricius and Monica. His father was a pagan while his mother was a Christian, and they belonged to an honourable upper class family.

His parents sent him to attend school at Madaurus when he was 11 years old. There he learned Latin literature and gained knowledge about pagan beliefs and practices.

He went to Carthage at the age of 17 to continue his education in rhetoric.

His mother had raised him in the Christian faith, but he was pulled towards the Manichaean religion.

As a youth he sought out different life experiences and had an affair with a young woman in Carthage who later bore him a son, named Adeodatus.

He took a teaching job at Tagaste where he taught grammar during 373-374. Later on he moved to Carthage to teach rhetoric, and held this position for nine years.

In 383, he went to Rome to establish a school there, but was disappointed with the apathy of the Roman schools.

He accepted the position of a professor of rhetoric at the imperial court at Milan in late 384. This was a very prestigious post that enabled the holders to easily enter a political career.

In Milan, he met Saint Ambrose who deeply influenced his thinking and philosophy. By this time, Augustine was disillusioned with the Manichaean religion and was moving towards Christianity.

He formally converted to Christianity in 386 and was baptized by Saint Ambrose in 387.

He was a prolific writer who had authored more than a hundred books. His works which have greatly influenced the development of Christian theology include apologies, works on Christian doctrine, and exegetical works.

Saint Augustine is mainly revered for his contribution to Western religion and philosophy through his teachings and various sermons. A man of high intellect, his works have covered various religious fields such as Christian anthropology, astrology, ecclesiology, etc.