St Augustine of Hippo.
354-430 ~ Aurelius Augustine was born in Thagaste (now Algeria) to a pagan father and a Christian mother, St Monica). He was brought up a Christian, but not baptised at birth. He studied rhetoric (the art of persuasive writing and expression) and philosophy at Carthage University and was a brilliant scholar, but he was a rebellious, wild youth and scorned at religion which deeply upset his mother. He formed a relationship with a young woman and they lived together for fourteen years and had a son, whom Augustine treasured. On completion of his studies, he went into teaching, but found it difficult to settle down at first and became interested in Manichaeism (teachings of Mani, a Persian philosopher) which he followed for a time.
While in Milan, he heard St Ambrose preach and was so impressed that he realised he must re-assess his life and came to the decision that he wanted to be baptised, much to his mother’s delight. He left his mistress, Lucille and she returned to North Africa. Augustine joined his mother and his son, Adeodatus and was baptised on Easter Eve 387. They then returned to North Africa, but sadly Monica, his mother died on the journey home. Saddened by this, Augustine was consoled by the fact they were reconciled before her death.
On arriving home, he sold all his processions and his estate to enable him to start a religious community and it was not long before he was ordained. He lived a monastic life and started preaching with great success. Having just recovered from his mother’s death, Augustine suffered another family tragedy when his son died about a year after arriving home.
The bishop of Hippo asked Augustine to administer to the Latin speaking community and he accepted the offer and worked amongst them for four years. He was then chosen to succeed as bishop of Hippo, a role he remained in for thirty-three years. During this time, he was one of the greatest bishops in Church history. His diocese was in North Africa and he lived amongst the clergy in the community, administering with kindness and fairness.
He was a popular man and he preached every Sunday to his people and took daily service in the cathedral. As well as being a great speaker, he was also a gifted writer, having a huge effect on the Christian Church. Most of his writings are still in existence. He composed over two hundred essays, three hundred letters and over four hundred sermons. His most famous writing is “Confessions”, which tells of his conversion. For his service to the Church, he was made a Doctorate of the Church.
He died at the age of seventy-seven. He is known as the patron saint of theologians and printers.