It has been called a work of high art and a masterpiece beyond classification. In 391, he was ordained presbyter in the church of hippo regius a small coastal town nearby. Concupiscence is ultimately a selfish and excessive desire for. Confessions of st augustine, the unabridged naxos audiobooks. The torments of sexual desire are a prominent theme of the confessions, and augustine often seems to identify all human sin with lust, or in his terms, concupiscence. Listen to confessions of saint augustine audiobook by saint augustine. Garry willss complete translation of saint augustines spiritual masterpieceavailable now for the first time. Modern english translations of it are sometimes published under the title the confessions of st. A year later, augustine was back in roman africa living in a monastery at tagaste, his native town. Augustine in order to distinguish the book from other books with similar titles, such as.
It tells more about the one making judgments than it does about the historical figure. Oconnell, saint augustine s confessions cambridge, mass. The confessions of saint augustine, by saint augustine. The work outlines saint augustines sinful youth and his conversion to christianity. Chadwicks lucid translation and helpful introduction clear the way for a new experience of this classic. In this new translation the brilliant and impassioned descriptions of augustines colourful early life are conveyed to the english reader with accuracy and art. He reveals a man of contradictory desires and beliefs, a regretful libertine torn between sin and morality on a spiritual journey toward his.
Augustine turns from his memories of the past to the inner mysteries of memory itself. Augustine in order to distinguish the book from other books with similar titles, such as jeanjacques rousseaus confessions. In carthage, augustine continues to be plagued by his sexual impulses and by his misdirected desire for love. The book tells of augustines restless youth and of the stormy spiritual voyage that had ended some 12 years before the writing in the haven of the roman catholic church. The confessions of saint augustine by saint augustine. Heartfelt, incisive, and timeless, the confessions of saint augustine has captivated readers for more than fifteen hundred years. This timeless work is applicable to everyone who has experienced the struggle between good and evil in his own soul. The confessions of saint augustine audiobook by aurelius. Saint augustine doe not hold back in his shortcomings. May 24, 2010 the confessions of saint augustine is one of the most moving diaries ever recorded of a mans journey to the fountain of gods grace. Only one piece of narrative interrupts the dense description of augustines intellectual processes.
He abandoned the christianity in which he had been brought. Augustine is one of the most moving diaries ever recorded of a mans journey to the fountain of gods grace. The confessions of saint augustine the catholic company. Confessions by saint augustine overdrive rakuten overdrive.
He takes on the nature of evil, the concept of time and god god is outside time we learn, and the famous conversion in the garden when an. A work that has captivated readers for more than fifteen hundred years. Throughout the series, he also delivers his philosophical ponderings and ideas on theology, and it becomes evident that each. Written by saint augustine of hippo, confessions is the saints autobiography that features books that detail his early life and his conversion to christianity as a result of the sin that he had incurred in his youth. Augustine invented the soliloquianot quite the soliloquy todays readers think of as a monologue, but an imagined dialoguein the case of the confessions, between him and his creator. Augustine of hippo, written between ad 397 and ad 398. A story of spiritual awakening, st augustines confessions is a fascinating look at the life of an eminent christian thinker. And as you read his confessions, you will find the confident humility that is common among those whom jesus calls great in the kingdom of heaven. Augustine writes as a common man, and so his words span time and tradition. May 29, 2003 the son of a pagan father and a christian mother, saint augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting worldviews. In confessions, regarded as the first true western autobiography, saint augustine of hippo lays bare his heart, body, and soul. Oconnell, saint augustines confessionscambridge, mass.
A short time later his mother, monica, died at ostia on the journey back to africa. His theft of some pears at 16, his growing sexual addiction, his developing philosophy and eventually his theology. And, if you pay attention, you might learn something too. He begins with his infancy, pondering the many sins of his life before his conversion, and he confesses not only his sins but even more the greatness of god. The confessions of saint augustine translated by edward b. Perhaps the most moving record of a souls journey to grace, confessions appears midway in saint augustines prodigious body of theological writings and remains his most influential. Saint augustines the conversion of saint augustine. In his famous classic, confessions, augustine reveals his struggles with temptation as well as his passionate love of god. Saint augustine is one of historys most prolific geniuses. I found this book interesting more theoretically than in actuality. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial.
Augustines work is an extended prayer and intimate conversation with a divine beloved. Widely seen as one of the first western autobiographies ever written, it chronicles the life and religious struggles of augustine of hippo. The work outlines saint augustine s sinful youth and his conversion to christianity. He begins with his infancy, pondering the many sins of his life before his conversion, and he confesses not only his sins but even more the great. Listen to confessions of saint augustine by saint augustine. His biography, along with peter browns, would probably be helpful to read to get a context for the confessions.
Augustine naxos audio books audiobook 9781781980361 this is a clear, conversational presentation of a classic christian work. Augustine decides to become a christian catechumen. Throughout the series, he also delivers his philosophical ponderings and ideas on theology, and it becomes evident that each event that has occurred in his life has had. The confessions of saint augustine audiobook, by aurelius augustinus.
This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. In saint augustine s confessions, he recounts his journey from being a young atheist living large and looking for answers with his intellect, to his eventual conversion to christianity through the efforts of his mother, and the peace and security he found in his faith. Many scholars consider saint augustine to be among the greatest and most influential fathers of the early church. The confessions of saint augustine by augustine of hippo.
Listen to confessions of saint augustine by saint augustine at. The confessions is written in the first person and addressed directly to god. The confessions of saint augustine audiobook aurelius. Augustine is born in north africa, to a christian mother and a nonchristian father. The confessions of saint augustine image classics paperback august 23, 1960.
Written by saint augustine, narrated by adam dudley. The most systematic refutation of the original thesis, from a scholar working without subjective assumptions about the content, is knauer 19n1, 149150, 154155, and even so plotinian a student of a. Saint augustines contributions to christian theology are second to no other postapostolic author in the whole sweep of church history. Confessions by saint augustine of hippo full audio book book 1. Written by saint augustine, narrated by david mccallion. Confessions by saint augustine of hippo full audio book. Which translation of augustines confessions is the. Give me chastity and continence, but not yetthe son of a pagan father and a christian mother, saint augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting worldviews. Oup oxford, mar 5, 1998 literary collections 352 pages. Confessiones is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of books, by st. Saint augustines contributions to christian theology are second to no other post apostolic author in the whole sweep of church history. Confessions full audio book by saint augustine of hippo 354430 translated by albert c.
Widely seen as one of the first western autobiographies ever written, it chronicles the life and religious struggles of augustine of hippo, from his days as a selfconfessed sinner to his. Augustine tells of his wrestlings to master his sexual drive, his rare ascent from a humble algerian farm to the edge of the corridors of high power at the imperial court of milan, and his renunciation of secular ambition and marriage. The confessions of augustine is a work of this class. Jul 28, 2008 saint augustine is one of historys most prolific geniuses. Garry wills is an exceptionally gifted translator and one of our best writers on religion today. As he struggled to liberate himself from his sinful past, augustine embarked on a quest that would transform him into one. The confessions of saint augustine is one of the most moving diaries ever recorded of a mans journey to the fountain of gods grace. Confessions saint by augustine of hippo full audiobook. Librivox public domain recording of confessions, by saint augustine of hippo. St augustine the confessions of st augustine read by mark meadows unabridged. The enchiridion is a compact treatise on christian piety, written in response to a request by an otherwise unknown person, named laurentis, shortly after the death of saint jerome in 420.
Augustine was a highly educated intellectual and his works bring together not just biblical and theological writings, but. Well, augustine proved himself to be a freaking pro at answering that question for himself in the confessions. It is the matchless account of a great saint struggling. The worlds most famous spiritual autobiography written between 397 and 398 ce, the confessions of saint augustine is the story of augustine of hippos childhood in numidia, his youth and early adulthood in carthage, rome, and milan, and his conversion to christianity. Written by saint augustine of hippo, confessions is the saint s autobiography that features books that detail his early life and his conversion to christianity as a result of the sin that he had incurred in his youth. Augustine was baptized by ambrose at milan during eastertide, a. Perhaps the most moving record of a souls journey to grace, confessions appears midway in saint augustine s prodigious body of theological writings and remains his most influential work. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet.
As the middle book of the in the confessions, book 7 marks the decisive turning point in augustines thought. Confessiones is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting. With great eloquence and passion, his confessionsa masterpiece of western literature explores enduring questions that continue to stir millions. The religious and philosophical value of the confessions is unquestionablenow modern readers will have easier access to st. In naxoss new audio recording of the confessions of saint augustine, british actor mark meadows offers a compelling, earnest interpretation of one of the most influential works in christian theology and western literature. Augustines confessions available in paperback, nook book. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Confessions is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of books, by st. Modern english translations of it are sometimes published under the title the confessions of saint augustine in order to distinguish the book. This work has extracts chosen from his confessions that express augustines wisdom and his mystical yearning for god, as well as his dissolute youth, his ascent to the imperial court in milan, and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the confessions.
In this uknblinking autobiography augustine bears all. Confessiones is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of books, by saint augustine of hippo, written in latin between 397 and 400 ad. Here he meets ambrose, who confronts him as an impressive witness for catholic christianity and opens out the possibilities of the allegorical interpretation of scripture. This study guide and infographic for saint augustine s the confessions offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. The confessions, spiritual selfexamination by saint augustine, written in latin as confessiones about 400 ce. The confessions, written when he was in his forties, recounts how, slowly and painfully, he came to turn away from his youthful ideas and licentious lifestyle to become one of christianitys most influential thinkers. With great eloquence and passion, his confessions a masterpiece of western literature explores enduring questions that continue to stir millions. New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars. Retelling the story of his long struggle with faith and ultimate conversion the first such spiritual memoir ever recorded saint augustine traces a story of sin, regret, and redemption that is both deeply personal and, at the same time, universal. This is an incredibly well read translation of the confessions, and while it does not correspond exactly to my paper version isbn 97819379700 it is still not a modernistic translation.
Confessiones is the name of a n autobiographical work, consisting of books, by st. It is a spiritual autobiography that transcends time and place. Accept this sacrifice of my confessions from the hand of my tongue. In this unguarded prayer, a fallible augustine admits to the indiscretions, selfishness, and licentious obsessions of his youth. Jan 26, 20 confessions full audio book by saint augustine of hippo 354430 translated by albert c. Confessions is the type of book with a heavy dynamic caliber that it should be read slow, thoughtfully, and with a highlighter.