The Surprising Saint of Hippo
The Surprising Saint of Hippo
Part Two: The Heart at Rest
Occasionally, a collection of minds and ideas come together, causing profound shifts in culture and history. The fourth and fifth centuries were one of such periods in Jesus' church. The church had survived its banned status in the Roman Empire. The emperor had converted. The religion had spread tremendously. Creeds were debated, agreed upon, re-argued, and rewritten with more clarity and conviction. In the middle of the fourth century, a group of church theologians were born: Gregory of Nazianzus (b. 329), Basil the Great (b. 330), Ambrose (b. 340), Jerome (b. 347), and Chrysostom. All branches of the Christian church have recognized their profound contemplation on scripture.
Among all these thinkers, Augustine (b. 354) stands out as the most significant. His writings and ideas influenced not only the church but also the broader culture. Although he lived in the later years of the Roman Empire, it is undeniable that his contributions built a bridge between antiquity and the medieval era of human history.
However, the churchman and thinker who left such a remarkable mark on both church and culture would not have come into being without his conversion to Christianity. His spiritual journey is more familiar to us than to many others of his era, as he shared it in his own words in a book that sits on the reading bucket list of countless individuals: The Confessions of St. Augustine.
Embedded in The Confessions is a familiar statement that divides his spiritual journey into two periods of time. Here are the exact words:
You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
His spiritual journey begins with a heart that is profoundly troubled and finds no peace. He provides an in-depth exploration of that part of his journey in The Confessions. I written about his troubled heart HERE and HERE The second part of The Confessions reveals the moments when his heart began to discover peace in God. The dramatic shifts in his life are evident as he allows us to experience those intense moments through his gift of storytelling. Although The Confessions is much more than just a tale of conversion, that particular moment is profoundly impactful; here is how it transpired:
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Augustine’s life would change because of a simple vocational decision he made to take the position of professor of rhetoric in Milan. At the time, he had no concept of the historic conversation that was about to take place. From his vantage point, it was merely a change in location while also being a step up in prominence. But it would be in this city where Augustine would become a follower of Jesus—and that moment changed the world both intellectually and spiritually.
When thinking of this spiritual seachange in Augustine’s life, you can never discount the importance of his mother, Monica. Augustine had grown up in a mixed-faith family. His father was a pagan, but his mother was a follower of Jesus. While Augustine followed in his father’s spiritual footsteps, Monica, had never stopped believing in, and praying for, her son’s conversion. When he moved to Milan, she recognized that the moment was approaching. Milan was the home of Ambrose, the bishop of Milan. Ambrose was one of the truly powerful orators of his time. Monica reached an agreement with him that he would meet with her son if Augustine were ever to attend worship.
Monica carefully broached the idea with her son of going to worship, which he strenuously rejected. But she knew her son well. She frequently spoke of Ambrose’s great oratorical skills. Augustine’s competitive nature was provoked, and one day attended worship to judge for himself. Impressed, he began to attend regularly. Augustine told all who asked that he had no interest in what Ambrose said, but was fascinated by how he developed his arguments.
Finally, Augustine requested a conversation with Ambrose, who agreed to meet. Over time, Ambrose led Augustine into a deeper understanding of Christian faith, carefully responding to all the questions and arguments Augustine raised. Sometimes, they would discuss the art of oratory, and Ambrose mentored the young professor in that regard. But far more importantly, Ambrose was helping Augustine open his heart to the reality of God’s love.
One Sunday after worship, Augustine was close to converting. But first, he had to settle the conflict that was consuming him from within. He understood that it was essential to take this step to achieve true freedom from the illicit lusts and ambitions for recognition that burned inside him. He truly sought peace, but hoped he could find it without relinquishing all his previous habits.
After worship, he and a friend went to another friend’s estate. Augustine ventured out alone into the garden and sat on a bench. As he contemplated his next step, he became aware that children were playing a game in a neighboring garden. He heard them repeatedly chanting a phrase, “tolle lege, tolle lege,” which meant “take up and read, take up and read.”
As he listened, Augustine looked down and saw he was still holding a copy of the letter to the Romans, written by the apostle Paul and found in the Second Testament. Opening it randomly, he landed upon Romans 13:13-14:
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
In that moment, the internal war ended. Augustine accepted the inspiration he had just received. He had come to realize he would never be free of his degenerate lifestyle through the power of ascetic effort. He relented and made the decision to become a follower of Jesus. The next Easter, he was baptized.
But the story did not end in Milan. In many ways, his journey was just beginning. Not long after his conversion, he left for North Africa. Reaching his hometown of Thagaste, he formed a community devoted to prayer and reading scripture.
“Take up and read, take up and read.” That chant had led him to pick up Romans and to read a few sentences that God used to free Augustine from his restless heart. Now, he could not get enough of scripture. He became an avid student, attracting others who similarly wanted more. As he taught and defended biblical truth, his reputation began to grow. His oratorical abilities began to convince doubters. He went on to become a priest, a bishop, and a brilliant theologian whose words and ideas became the theological pillar for Christianity for centuries.