SAINT AUGUSTINE

CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION

translated by

John J. Gavigan, O.S.A.

ADMONITION AND GRACE

translated by

John Courtney Murray, S.J.

THE CHRISTIAN COMBAT

translated by

Robert P. Russell, O.S.A.

FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY

translated by

Bernard M. Peebles

the catholic university of america press

Washington, D. C.

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 66-20314

Copyright, 1947 by

the catholic university of america press, inc.

All rights reserved

Second Edition 1950

Reprinted, 1966

Reprinted, 1985

Reprinted, 1992

First paperback reprint 2002

ISBN 0-8132-1318-5

THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH

Founded by

LUDWIG SCHOPP

EDITORIAL BOARD

Roy Joseph Deferrari

The Catholic University of America

Editorial Director

CONTENTS

CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION

Introduction

Text

ADMONITION AND GRACE

Introduction

Text

THE CHRISTIAN COMBAT

Introduction

Text

FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY

Introduction

Text

INDEX

CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION

(De doctrina Christiana)

Translated

by

JOHN J. GAVIGAN, O.S.A., Ph.D.

Villanova College

INTRODUCTION

To introduce St. Augustine’s Christian Instruction we can hardly do better than translate the chapter of his own Retractations in which, while correcting certain errors, the author relates why and under what circumstances the former work was written:1

When I became aware that the books on Christian Instruction were incomplete, I chose to finish them, rather than leave them in such a condition and pass on to the revision of other works. I therefore completed the third book, which had been written up to the point where a reference from the Gospel is made concerning the woman who hid leaven ‘in three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’ I also added the last book and completed the work in four books. The first three of these help to an understanding of the Scriptures, while the fourth instructs us how to present the facts which we have comprehended. However, in the second book, referring to the author of the book which many call the Wisdom of Solomon, I have learned since then that it was not a certainty that Jesus the son of Sirach wrote this book, as well as the Book of Ecclesiasticus, as I had stated, and I have discovered that it is more probable that he is not the author of this book. Moreover, when I said, ‘The authority of the Old Testament is terminated by these forty-four books,’ I was referring to the Old Testament according to the general practice by which the Church speaks of it; however, the Apostle appears to designate as the Old Testament only that which was promulgated on Mount Sinai. Furthermore, my memory deceived me in the ...