The Confessions of St. Augustine

The Confessions of St. Augustine have captivated readers for more than 1500 years because they are heartfelt, insightful, and ageless. Saint Augustine outlines a tale of sin, sorrow, and redemption that is both incredibly personal and universal as he tells the story of his prolonged battle with faith and eventual conversion. This masterpiece is known for being the first spiritual memoir ever recorded.

Sneak Peek

“Let the arrogant mock me, and such as have not been, to their soul’s health, stricken and cast down by Thee, O my God; but I would still confess to Thee mine own shame in Thy praise. Suffer me, I beseech Thee, and give me grace to go over in my present remembrance the wanderings of my forepassed time, and to offer unto Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving.”

Summary

Augustine is brutally honest about his proud and rebellious youth, beginning with his early life, education, and young mistakes while continuing through his rise to becoming a teacher of rhetoric at Hippo, Rome, and Milan. He eventually develops a sense of inner emptiness as his first loves eventually go bitter and the allure of worldly prosperity fades, until a movement toward Christian faith takes hold, ultimately leading to conversion and the flowering of a new life.

The Confessions of St. Augustine is a timeless classic that will endure as long as people yearn for inner peace and significance in their lives. It is philosophically and theologically brilliant, sincere in its feeling, historically anchored, and stunningly modern in its resonance.