Saint Augustine: Life, Conversion, and Theological Impact
Augustine, born in Tagaste (Souk Ahras, Algeria) in 354, was endowed with great imagination and extraordinary skill. In his tireless search for truth, Augustine explored various philosophical schools, none of which fully addressed his concerns.
He questioned certain aspects of Christianity (the problem of evil, freedom, the literary quality of the Bible, etc.) without ever abandoning the Christian tradition inherited from his mother.
In his youth, he had experiences he later regretted. At age 32, he began to revise his beliefs and convert to Christianity. Despite seeking solitude and isolation, Augustine’s fame spread throughout the region. In 391, he was ordained a priest and founded a monastery.
In 396, he was consecrated Bishop of Hippo and served for 34 years. This period was marked by great political and theological upheaval. Around 396, he wrote his book Confessions, and two years later began The Treatise on the Trinity, followed by The City of God in 413. He died in 430. Augustine was a Christian and a pastor committed to his time and his church, an intellectual who put his wisdom at the service of the Christian faith, and a passionate explorer of truth and happiness. In this search, he found Jesus Christ, the only one who could fill his restless heart.
Problems with Heresy
Heresies were erroneous interpretations of Christian doctrine that questioned aspects of the figure and personality of Christ. These conflicts were resolved by appealing to the authority recognized in a bishop or gathered in a council:
Council of Nicaea
Condemned the doctrine of Arius, who claimed that Jesus Christ was not like the Father, but inferior, and therefore not God, but someone created by God.
Council of Ephesus
Condemned Nestorius, who stated that Christ did not have a divine nature and therefore Mary was not the Mother of God, but only the Mother of Jesus. The Council affirmed that Christ was God and that Mary was the Mother of God.
Council of Chalcedon
Condemned Eutyches’ theory that the divine nature of Christ annulled his human nature. The Council declared that Jesus is true God and true man.
The New Location of the Church
- The Christian calendar designates Sunday as the Lord’s Day and an official holiday to celebrate important Christian holidays.
- Laws contrary to Christian morality were amended: gladiatorial fights and infanticide were banned, death by crucifixion was abolished, the condition of slaves was liberalized, family life was favored, and so on.
- The church began to acquire public buildings, and basilicas were built.
This privileged position brought new challenges to the church. Civil and political power protected its elevation to the status of official religion, which caused the great danger of contamination by political power and a lack of freedom.
Hierarchical Structure
Jesus chose a group of 12 from among all his disciples and sent them to proclaim the Gospel, investing them with authority. Among all the apostles, the Lord chose Simon, giving him the name Peter, and declared that he would build his church on this rock. He entrusted him with the keys and appointed him pastor of the entire flock, tasking him with engaging and encouraging the disciples not to falter in their faith. He shared with the Apostles the power to “bind and loose,” i.e., making decisions necessary for the good of the church.
The Pope has the same powers as Peter, has the ultimate responsibility for the church, and presides over the college of bishops. Their missions are:
- Maintain the unity of all Christians worldwide. Therefore, they appoint bishops and convene councils.
- Encourage and support the bishops in their task.
The successors of the Apostles are the bishops, who assume the responsibilities that the apostles had in the early church:
- Teaching and transmitting the message of the Gospel
- Presiding at liturgical celebrations, especially the Eucharist
- Overseeing the government of the community, addressing their problems.
From the early Christian communities, ministers existed in the church who were responsible for various tasks. Priests act by delegation from the bishop and perform the same functions as the bishop within the Christian community, representing the entire diocese. Deacons assist priests in their functions but can only preside over the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.