SAINT AUGUSTINE

CONFESSIONS

Translated by

VERNON J. BOURKE, Ph.D.

the catholic university of america press

Washington, D. C.

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 66-20310

ISBN-13: 978-0-8132-1561-7 (pbk)

Copyright © 1953 by

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS, INC.

All rights reserved

Reprinted 1966

First paperback reprint 2008

THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH

A NEW TRANSLATION

Founded by

LUDWIG SCHOPP

EDITORIAL BOARD

Roy Joseph Deferrari

The Catholic University of America

Editorial Director

Rudolph Arbesmann, O.S.A. Fordham University	Bernard M. Peebles The Catholic University of America
Stephan Kuttner The Catholic University of America	Robert P. Russell, O.S.A. Villanova College
Martin R. P. McGuire The Catholic University of America	Anselm Strittmatter, O.S.B. St. Anselm’s Priory
Wilfrid Parsons, S.J. The Catholic University of America	James Edward Tobin Queens College

Gerald G. Walsh, S.J.

Fordham University

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CONFESSIONS

1: Augustine’s Boyhood

2: A Year of Idleness

3: Life in Carthage

4: Nine Years a Manichaean

5: Teaching in Rome and Milan

6: Moral and Religious Indecision

7: Through Philosophy to Christ

8: Struggles of Conversion

9: Augustine’s Baptism; Monica’s Death

10: Searching for God in Memory

11: God and the Beginning of Time

12: The Author of Heaven and Earth

13: The First Seven Days

INDEX

WRITINGS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

VOLUME 5

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the Confessions it is evident that St. Augustine is addressing his words directly to God. As he himself says: ‘The thirteen books of my Confessions praise the just and good God, both on the basis of my good and of my evil deeds, and they elevate the human understanding and affections to Him.’1 Thus, the Confessions is at once a profession of religious faith, a meditation on the wondrous workings of Providence, and a hymn of divine praise.2

That Augustine had human readers in mind is also evident. He had left North Africa in 383, an adherent of the Manichaean religion. After five years spent in Rome and in Milan, he appeared again in Carthage as a baptized and zealous Christian. Naturally, his distant conversion must have been the subject of much speculation and curiosity among both Manichaeans and Catholics in Africa. Of course, several of his relatives and friends had shared his religious experiences in North Italy and they were trustworthy witnesses to the engrossing story of Augustine’s conversion. As early as 395, one of his intimate friends, Alypius, wrote a letter to the famous Christian ascetic, Paulinus of Nola, enclosing some of the anti-Manichaean writings of Augustine. Paulinus replied3 with a request for a complete account of Alypius’ life. Apparently, Augustine undertook the task;4 it seems that these biographical notes were later incorporated into that section of the Confessions which deals with Alypius.5

Perhaps Paulinus then asked for fuller information on Augustine’s life; some writers think that the early books of the Confessions were ...