Saint Augustine

Date of Birth: November 13, 354 AD

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: August 28, 430 AD

Biography

Saint Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He was born in 354 AD in Thagaste, a Roman province in North Africa (modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria). Augustine is best known for his works “Confessions” and “The City of God,” which are considered cornerstones of Christian literature. Augustine’s early life was marked by a series of spiritual and intellectual struggles. He was heavily influenced by Manichaeism and later by Neoplatonism before converting to Christianity in 386 AD. His conversion was a pivotal moment, brought about in part by the prayers of his devout Christian mother, Monica, and the preaching of Ambrose of Milan. After his conversion, Augustine became a priest in 391 AD and was later appointed the Bishop of Hippo in 395 AD, a position he held until his death. As Bishop, he was a prolific writer, producing a vast array of theological and philosophical works that addressed issues such as the nature of God, the problem of evil, and the relationship between church and state. Saint Augustine died on August 28, 430 AD, during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals. He was canonized as a saint, and his feast day is celebrated on August 28.

5 Interesting Facts about Saint Augustine

1. Augustine’s mother, Monica, is also a canonized saint.

2. Before his conversion, Augustine led a hedonistic lifestyle and fathered a son out of wedlock.

3. His work “Confessions” is one of the first autobiographies in Western literature.

4. Augustine’s concept of “original sin” has had a lasting impact on Christian doctrine.

5. He is considered one of the four great Doctors of the Western Church, alongside Ambrose, Jerome, and Gregory the Great.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Saint Augustine

1. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

2. “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

3. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

4. “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”

5. “Love, and do what you will.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a religious figure from antiquity, Saint Augustine did not accumulate personal wealth. His “net worth” is more appropriately measured in his substantial intellectual and spiritual contributions to Christianity and Western thought.

Children

Saint Augustine had one known child, a son named Adeodatus, born out of wedlock with a woman he never married. Adeodatus was deeply loved by Augustine and played a significant role in his early Christian life. Adeodatus predeceased Augustine, dying at a young age.