Augustine of Hippo

Augustine was born on 13 November 354 in Thagaste in Roman North Africa, in what is now Souk Ahras, Algeria. Raised by his devout mother, Monica, and a father who came to faith late in life, he grew into a brilliant student of rhetoric, yet his heart wandered. In Carthage he pursued pleasure and ambition, was drawn to Manichaeism, and later searched for truth through philosophy, all while carrying the weight of sin he would later confess with striking honesty. He lived for many years with a woman who bore him a son, Adeodatus, whom he deeply loved. In time, grace broke through his restlessness. After his conversion and baptism in 386, Augustine devoted his formidable mind to Christ and the Church, eventually becoming bishop of Hippo Regius. Through works like Confessions and The City of God, he helped shape Western Christian faith, especially teaching on grace, sin, and the life of the Church as God’s city amid the world’s turmoil. He is venerated as a Doctor of the Church and patron of the Augustinians and many places, including Agosta. His feast day is June 15.