The Political Writings of St. Augustine

Aurelius Augustinus, Saint Augustine (of Hippo)

Gateway Editions, 1962 - Political Science - 358 pages

This collection, taken from the works of St. Augustine, has been arranged so as to give the reader an organized, comprehensive view of the great African saint's political ideas. These, no less than his ideas on sin, grace and predestination, have long been an object of study and controversy.

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The most important voice in political thought throughout the Middle Ages, influencing even St. Aquinas, was that of St. Augustine. Through excerpts of sermons, letters, and selections from City of God ...

Contents

• THE RISE AND FALL OF NATIONS: 44
• Gods Governance and Roman: 88
• SECURING THE PEACE OF BABYLON: 118

About the author

Saint Augustine was born to a Catholic mother and a pagan father on November 13, 354, at Thagaste, near Algiers. He studied Latin literature and later taught rhetoric in Rome and Milan. He originally joined the Manicheans, a religious sect, but grew unhappy with some of their philosophies. After his conversion to Christianity and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to philosophy and theology, accommodating a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed that the grace of Christ was indispensable to human freedom, and he framed the concepts of original sin and just war. His thoughts greatly influenced the medieval worldview. One of Augustine's major goals was a single, unified church. He was ordained a priest in 391 and appointed Bishop of Hippo, in Roman Africa, in 396. Augustine was one of the most prolific Latin authors in terms of surviving works, and the list of his works consists of more than one hundred separate titles. His writings and arguments with other sects include the Donatists and the Pelagians. On the Trinity, The City of God, and On Nature and Grace are some of his important writings. Confessions, which is considered his masterpiece, is an autobiographical work that recounts his restless youth and details the spiritual experiences that led him to Christianity. Many of Augustine's ideas, such as those concerning sin and predestination, became integral to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. In the Catholic Church he is a saint and pre-eminent Doctor of the Church, and the patron of the Augustinians. He is the patron saint of brewers, printers, and theologians. Augustine died on August 28, 430.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Political Writings of St. Augustine; Volume 6070 of Gateway edition
• Authors: Aurelius Augustinus, Saint Augustine (of Hippo)
• Editors: Henry Paolucci, Dino Bigongiari
• Photographs by: Henry Paolucci, Dino Bigongiari
• Translated by: Dino Bigongiari
• Contributor: Henry Paolucci
• Publisher: Gateway Editions, 1962
• ISBN: 0895269414, 9780895269416
• Length: 358 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / History & Theory; Religion / Christian Church / History