St. Augustine of Hippo (Feast Day: August 28) was a fourth century theologian and philosopher of Amazigh origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His mother was Saint Monica, a Christian, but Augustine embraced the religion known as Manichaeism. He led a wild and dissolute youth and it was during this time that he had a son, Adeodatus with a concubine. Intelligent and inspired by the quest for ambition, he led a brilliant legal and academic career. Through the enduring prayers of his mother and the teaching of Saint Ambrose of Milan, Augustine would eventually convert to Christianity. He was baptized in 387, shortly before his mother’s death. He would later become Bishop of Hippo and spent 34 years looking after his flock, teaching them, strengthening them in the faith, and protecting them strenuously against the errors of the time, all while writing an extensive body of work on theology and philosophy.

Questions for Reflection:

• Augustine was influenced by those around him, especially his mother, Saint Monica. Who is your faith role model?
• What are you willing to sacrifice in order to follow God’s will?
• How might God be calling you to a life you did not originally anticipate?