Saint Augustine: Letters: vol. V (204–270)
Overview
These letters, taken as a whole, present a vivid and fascinating view of life in North Africa at the beginning of the fifth century. In addition to the comments about ecclesiastical and episcopal affairs, there are also letters on various threats to peace and security common in this period of the late empire, on slavery and the growth of the slave trade, and on Roman involvement in African affairs, both ecclesiastical and civil.
There are letters dealing with moral questions and pastoral problems, in both marriage and the family, as well as in larger areas of doctrine and discipline in the Church. The conflict resulting from the end of the Donatist schism becomes clearer, as does the refrain of desperation stemming from an inadequate supply of clergy for parishes needing to be served. A large number of these letters illustrate the day-to-day worries of a fifth century North African bishop: clerical scandals, Church finances, people seeking sanctuary in a church (and the ensuing problems with the civil authorities), and disputed episcopal succession.
For The Fathers of the Church series in its entirety, see Fathers of the Church Series (127 vols.).
Key Features
- Valuable for theological and historical study of the era in which Augustine lived and taught
- Includes background on both the author and the pastoral issues he faced
- One of 127 published volumes in a well-respected series on the Church Fathers
Top Highlights
“According to these words of the Apostle, if he had wished to practice continence and you had not, he would have been obliged to render you the debt, and God would have given him credit for continence if he had not refused you marital intercourse, out of consideration for your weakness, not his own, in order to prevent you from falling into the damnable sin of adultery. How much more fitting would it have been for you, to whom subjection was more appropriate, to yield to his will in rendering him the debt in this way, since God would have taken account of your intention to observe continence which you gave up to save your husband from destruction!” (Pages 262–263)
“Fod God knoweth the ways that are on the right hand; but those are perverse that are on the left. But he will make thy course straight; he will bring forward thy ways in peace.’11 In these words of holy Scripture consider, brothers, that if there were no free will it would not say: ‘Make straight the paths for thy feet, and direct all thy ways; decline not to the right hand nor to the left.’ Yet, if this were possible without the grace of God, it would not say afterwards: ‘He will make thy course straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace.’” (Page 65)
“They had one soul and heart toward God.’5 Thus, your soul is not your own, but is shared by all the brethren whose souls are also yours, or, rather, whose souls form with yours not souls, but one soul, the single soul of Christ, of which the psalm says that it is delivered from the hand of the dog.’6 From this it is an easy step to contempt of death.” (Pages 221–222)
- Title: Saint Augustine: Letters: Volume V (204–270)
- Author: Augustine of Hippo
- Series: The Fathers of the Church
- Volume: 32
- Publisher: Catholic University of America
- Print Publication Date: 1956
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 333
- Era: era:nicene
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo
- Resource ID: LLS:LTTRSVLM5204270
- Resource Type: text.monograph.letters
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:18:11Z