granted” (343).
After this statement, Augustine continued to dispute the various ideas
associated with this thought. Taking a look at two, out of the multiple statements, we will
see a glimpse at the masterful way Augustine opposes the unorthodox views presented by
certain groups, such as the Platonists and Manicheans.
1. “Are there any good demons who might assist the human soul to attain
felicity?” (Augustine, City of God 344). Within the following passage, Augustine stated
that since these men believe demons act as mediators between them (humans) and gods,
since they count on demons to reach gods, those humans will only be led astray from the
one true God. For only through God, and God alone, can the soul of humans attain
felicity.
2. “The opinions of Peripatetics and Stoics about the passions” (Augustine, City of
God 345). These philosophers felt that to describe the states of the soul one would have
to call them disturbances, affections, or passions. In addition, every human, including
those who are wise, are subject to passions. Basically, Augustine discussed the ways in
which these groups understood passions, as inducement to sin. Then, in the next section,
Augustine explained that passions, according to Christians, lead to virtue. “Scripture
subjects the mind to God for his direction and assistance, and subjects the passions to the
mind for their restraint and control so that they may be turned into the instruments of
justice” (City of God 349). In this passage, Augustine reversed the philosophical
understanding that all bodily things are evil and any act—around sexual intercourse—is
wrong. This was to the extreme that, literally, any act of the body regarding sexual
relations, whether in marriage or out, was considered sinful because the body is of
humans and humans are of evil. However, Augustine drastically contradicted this
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thought, declaring that it is not necessarily the action that is sinful, but the motive behind
the action. An example would be having intercourse to fulfill a burning lust (sinful),
versus having intercourse in a married, loving relationship physically to manifest one’s
love for God (not sinful). Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we would consider
Augustine a contemporary in our day-in-age, even though he lived in the fourth and fifth
centuries.
Although we only briefly discussed City of God, it is important to know that
Augustine maintained an important theological insight in this book. Attacking many
heresies, he established the two cities, and where our priorities of love should be set. If
we are in the city of God, then we love the world, for God created the world, but before
we love these possessions, we love God. Therefore, the world is not an evil place itself;
however, the actions, or motivation behind the actions of humans, create sin. When
humans live within the city of humans, they have no concrete concept of true virtue,
passions, and justice. These humans will be lead astray from God by their demons, their
temptations, for they do not communicate with God alone—their demons talk for them.
St. Augustine: His Life and Spirituality
In a ninety-minute video, Fr. Benedict Groeschel journeys through the life and
accomplishments of St. Augustine. Dividing this exploration into three parts,
Fr. Groeschel captures the essence of Augustine. Briefly, we will give a synopsis of each
part that Fr. Groeschel presented.
First we will start with the part called: Convert. Within the thirty-minute part of
the video, Convert, Fr. Groeschel gives a condensed biography of Augustine. Fr.
Groeschel reflected on the main portions of his life that led Augustine to conversion and
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the accomplishments after he became a Christian. Since we already covered a summary
of Augustine’s life, we will not expand any further on this portion of the video.
Next, there was another thirty-minute presentation called: Theologian of Christian
Scripture. Mostly, within this portion of the video, Fr. Groeschel talks about Augustine’s
writings, such as Confessions. In fact, a large portion of the thirty minutes is devoted to
understanding the theological and philosophical ideas presented in Confessions. Seeing as
how we already explored, in a minimal way, the Confessions, we will not expand much
further on what Fr. Groeschel presented. However, it is beneficial to note that
Fr. Groeschel explains that Augustine questioned important ideas in order to reach his
reflection of God.
Finally, the third portion, another thirty-minutes of the video, was called: Spiritual
Director. Within this part, Fr. Groeschel spoke about the accomplishments that Augustine
made as a bishop. Examples would be Augustine’s practice of faith, his hope in God, and
starting the Servants of God monastery. Also, Fr. Groeschel mentioned the heretics
Augustine was battling as North Africa was falling to barbarians. Previously, we
mentioned a few of these heretics and their notions in the section of City of God. Over all,
the video was an informative experience with insights into the life of St. Augustine.
Conclusion
We seem able to know only what we have made; and what
we have made, of ourselves or of our world, is cast always
adrift upon a sea of what we have never made. We claim vast
power; and, to be sure, the forces in which we meddle are vast.
However, to possess power is not only to be able to summon it
forth but to call it home as well. The truest sign of power lies
not in troubling the seas but in calming them. The weakest child
may turn a forest into an inferno; but only fools would call that
true power. We may yet show ourselves capable of bringing about
a last day, but can we bring about a first day? Our power is
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