MODULE 8: THE SPIRITUALITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE OF

HIPPO

In this module, we will discuss the Spirituality of Saint Augustine of

Hippo. The characteristics of his spirituality will be given importance.
His restless conversion which is considered as the key to his
spirituality shall determine the kind of spirituality that we ought to
imitate in our Father, Saint Augustine of Hippo. He exemplifies to us
the beauty of following Christ and relating ourselves intimately with
God and with one another.
MODULE 8: THE SPIRITUALITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE OF
HIPPO

However, for Augustine of Hippo, self-knowledge is the key to

spiritual life. Like him, we too are inspired and encouraged to know
our own self so that we may be able to know God and defend our
nature as persons created in the image and likeness of God. This
module then will bring us further to the splendid transforming
moment of Augustine, the process of his conversion, and the moral
components of his conversion that define the so-called genuine
Augustinian spirituality.
MODULE 8: LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

1. acquire knowledge on the meaning of the spirituality of Augustine
of Hippo and the roots of Augustinian spirituality.

2. show appreciation on the characteristics of the spirituality of Saint

Augustine of Hippo, and of the story of his restless conversion.

3. plan out their own strategy on how they could develop or

strengthen their own spirituality, and work seriously on their own
moral and spiritual conversion.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRITUALITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
A. AUGUSTINIAN SPIRITUALITY

The spiritual legacy associated with Augustine of Hippo can be

considered from a twofold perspective: the actual thought and
teaching of St. Augustine, and subsequent traditions of spirituality
associated with and based upon the figure and thought of
Augustine.

The saint himself represents an approach to what will subsequently

be called spirituality that is thematic rather than systematic.
Subsequent traditions associated with Augustine will highlight,
emphasize, and accordingly systematize aspects of his spirituality.
CHRISTOLOGICAL
Christ as the Way, Christ as the Homeland (Via and Patria )—
this is one of many Christological titles used by Augustine
both to affirm and to explore the central place and role of
Jesus Christ in the Christian life.

To affirm the centrality of Christ is likewise to affirm the

centrality of the Trinity for Augustine's spirituality, since it is
Christ who reveals the Father and promises the Spirit, it is the
Father who sends the Son, it is the Spirit who inflames.
CHRISTOLOGICAL
the hearts of the followers of the Son. Every dimension of
Augustine's vision of the spiritual life is vitally linked to and
grounded in his profound sense of the identity and work of
the Son of God, expressed in key affirmations such as Christ-
Physician (medicus ), Teacher (magister ), Word (Verbum ),
and the uniquely rich Christus totus —the whole Christ.
 GRACE-CENTERED
From his earliest writings to his final work Augustine
provocatively placed God's gratuitous initiative (grace) at the
center of the divine-human relationship.

This emphasis on grace is both profoundly Christological and

deeply Anthropological, for it reveals both God's gracious
initiative in Christ and total human dependence upon this
initiative. "Without me you can do nothing" is equally, for
Augustine, an affirmation of God's absolute sovereignty in
the process of salvation and a confirmation of the total
incapacity of human nature without this sovereign initiative.
INNER-DIRECTED
Drawing upon the affirmation of Genesis that humans are
created in God's image (imago Dei ), Augustine continually
calls the Christian to turn within to discover that divine
presence, seal, and identity.

The heart (cor) becomes for Augustine a key term and symbol
for the profound and challenging depths every human being
finds and faces within. However, "Return to yourself" is never
for Augustine a selfish movement of escapism but a true
opening to and discovery of authentic human identity.
SCRIPTURAL
The New and Old Testaments provide the vocabulary, ideas, and
content of Augustine's spirituality. Sharing with all patristic authors
a profound sense of the centrality of the Word of God for worship,
prayer, and daily living, Augustine's spiritual writings are so filled
with Scripture that it is often difficult to know when Augustine
ends, and Scripture begins.

Key texts occur over and over again in Augustine's writings and
provide his thought with coherence and continuity (e.g., Gn 1:27; Jb
7:1; Is 7:9 [LXX]; Jn 1:14; Rom 5:5; 7:24– 25a; 11:33–36; 1 Cor 1:31;
3:6–7; 4:7; Gal 5:6; etc.). This profoundly scriptural spirituality finds
its apex in the Confessions, where scripture text and Augustine's
voice are blended together indistinguishably.
COMMUNAL
The community of Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise is
profoundly emblematic for Augustine of humanity's communal
nature. "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart
is restless until it rests in you.“
Augustine's own human make-up was decidedly social,
poignantly portrayed in the Confessions as he shares both
grace and sin.
Augustine took a communal key text from Acts 4:32, describing
the early apostolic community in Jerusalem, as a guidepost for
not only his monastic community but the Church as a whole.
LOVE-MOTIVATED
Both enthralled and terrified with the scriptural
affirmations that "God is love" (1 Jn 4:16) and Christ's
own description of the Final Judgment in terms of love
of the poor Christ (Mt 25), Augustine saw love as the
central command of Jesus that summed up the whole
Christian life. "Love and do what you will" was, for
Augustine, an affirmation not only of the centrality of
love but of its nature as guarantor of the Christian life.
PROGRESSIVE

The "restless heart" that Augustine places within every

true Christian, marks his spirituality with a fundamental
dynamism and vitality that is expressed in his frequent
use of the word "pilgrimage" to describe the life of the
Christian. Following Christ is always a matter of ongoing
conversion, taking up new challenges in response to
God's call. Conversion, progress, ascent—Augustine's
model for the Christian life demands an ongoing journey
of transformation.
B. AUGUSTINE’S INTERNAL JOURNEY
The life of Augustine is an open book to us who have read his
previously mentioned great book, The Confessions. There is no
need, therefore, to retell it here. But for the sake of having a
comprehensive view of his internal journey, it is necessary to
underline a few but important factors which contributed to the
transformation of his life. Despite having a great and saintly mother
or a catechist during his early childhood, Augustine
perhaps because of his father’s influence or simply because
of universally shared shortcomings of born Catholics, that
is, presumed conviction towards one’s inherited faith – led
the normal life of a boy of his time with a semi-pagan culture.
 The only difference was that, he was gifted with a
brilliant mind, a genial character, and a strong sense of
dedication to whatever task he had at hand. Moreover, he
was, in his own right, ambition of having a better life than
that of many of his peers. This means more education, and
eventually more money, honor, and power.
whatever task he had at hand. Moreover, he was, in his
own right, ambition of having a better life than that of many
of his peers. This means more education, and eventually
more money, honor, and power. the act of journeying
together in search of the truth that is God. This journey, as
Augustine’s own life gives example, was not merely a
communal and internal journey toward God, but rather a
communal and outward journey. Augustine took scripture as
a guide for truth, and specifically followed the example of the
first Christian community described in the Acts of the
Apostles. As such, he and the communities in which he lived
followed Christ’s outward model of love through service to
others.
The Total Christ
St. Augustine is credited with coining the phrase “Totus
Christus” (The Whole Christ) who is at the center and heart of
the Trinity from all eternity; is dynamically One in his
humanity during his historical time on earth; and continues
to be at the center of our interacting and entwining lives
throughout all of history “We are Christ, and we are of Christ
because in some way the whole Christ is head and body”.
(Exposition on the psalms 26, 22) For this reason, Augustine
was able to meet Christ present each day in:
1. Community: “By loving us he has bound us together by mutual
love, and by joining the members together in this gentle bond he
has made us the body of which he is the noble head”. (Homily on
John’s Gospel 65, 3)

2. The Word of Scripture: “Don’t be lazy, gather the grains from the
Lord’s threshing floor; the words of God from the Church of God,
gather them and store them away in your heart”. (Sermon 38, 2)
 3. The Eucharist: Christ is present not just in the bread and wine
placed on the altar, but the people assembled are changed (or at
least reminded) that they are the Body of Christ. “Just as communion
turns into you when you eat and drink it, so you, for your part, turn
into the Body of Christ when you live devout and obedient lives”
(Sermon 228 B, 3)

4. The Poor and Suffering Members of Society: “Christ is present in

the poor; when you give to the poor it is Christ’s hand which
accepts”. (Sermon 86, 3,3) For this reason and impelled by
communal love, Augustinian Spirituality finds its expression in acting
justly and peacefully with all of humanity.
MODULE 8: CONCLUSION
We have learned in this Module some insights on the
spirituality of Augustine of Hippo particularly its
characteristics and the process of his conversion. Augustine
had succeeded to tell us his splendid transforming moment –
a moment in which he was able to find and embrace God. He
had reminded us that self-knowledge is the key to spiritual
life as based on his restless journey with God despite the
many trials and difficulties. He had taught us that truly God is
good, and he never abandons us despite our sinfulness and
weaknesses.
Augustinian spirituality covers multi-faceted aspects, and
characteristics which are intended to bring humanity closer
to God and closer to one another in God. The primary goal of
every Augustinian spirituality is to love and to serve the
whole humanity of God. We are one with the Augustinian
Fathers and brothers in their journey towards God. We are
called to live in harmony with one another in “oneness of
mind and heart” on the way to God through our love and
service to humanity.
Through learning and interiorizing his life, works, teachings,
and spirituality, we too may be able to achieve happiness
with God, and share in His eternal abode in heaven. Let us
then continue to participate actively in the Augustinian
charism, mission and spirituality as we fix our eyes upon Him
and boldly shout His glory across the sky, dear Augustinians.