The confessions of St.Augustine: A Review

Tiffany stained-glass window of St. Augustine,
in the Lightner Museum, St. Augustine, Florida.

I recently read 'The Confessions' a spiritual autobiography written by St.Augustine. It was a wonderful reading as he describes his early childhood, his lack of interest for arithmetic and his interest to study Latin. His early adolesence where he steals pears with a group of friends. His Adulthood where he goes to Carthage to study and which makes him fall in love with wisdom. How he embraces Manichaeism-a religion founded by Manes in the third century; a synthesis of Zoroastrian, Babylonian folklore and Buddhist ethics and superficial elements of Christianity. How he Becomes a teacher of rhetoric and his grief at the death of a close friend. How the sermons of Bishop Ambrose cause him to reject the teaching of Manichees. 


The confessions consists of 13 Books and this review is of first 5 books, translated by Edward Bouverie Pusey


Book 1: All of our initial childhood is full of mischiefs, which we later recollect and enjoy. But in Augustine case he regrets for having done bad in his studies, In fact he didnt like subjects like arithmetic. He also explains how he learnt Latin with interest and mere observation among his firends who encouraged him. When he explains he`s early childhood he recalls how miserable it was for him to carry on with his initial studies


Quotes: "Thee, O God, are all good things, and from my God is all my health." 


Book 2: Adolesence is the period where most of us enjoy with our friends, it is also the time when some major changes happen in our body. Augustine recalls how he stole pears with his friends at age of 16 and how lust empowered him at that age. He also further recollects that he didnt enjoy what he did but sin itself was enjoable. 


Quotes: "...there is no place whither altogethere to retire from thee"

"St Augustine and Monica"

Book 3: Adulthood is full of oppurtunities for everyone where we select the colleges we like to go and study the subject which we dreamt of in accordance with our pursuit for good future. Even Augustine goes to Carthage to study, he reads Cicero's Hortensius, which inspires him to love wisdom and embrace Manichaeism. He enjoyed the stage plays there which had lot of grieve in them. He also tell how his vanities drive him into greater vanities


Quotes: " For within me was a famine of that inward food, Thyself, my God; yet, through that famine I was not hungered; but was without all longing for incorruptible sustenance, not because filled therewith, but the more empty, the more I loathed it.


Book 4: Our early year of career are full of challenges and hardships similary was Augustine case. He became a teacher of grammer at Thagaste. He also shares a living with a woman and says how he challenged the holy convenant of martirmony. He also elaborates the death of his close friend due to fever whom he loved dearly and which made him leave his native town Thagaste. He stressed the importance of sexual morality in this book which is very relevant in this modern era full of  lust lunacy. He also suggests that he began to love his life of sorrow more than his fallen friend.


Quotes: " Wretched I was; and wretched is every soul bound by the friendship of perishable things; he is torn asunder when he loses them, and then he feels the wretchedness which he had ere yet he lost them."


Book 5: Quotes: Searching for new carrer opputurnities is also essential part of one`s life, hence Augustine moves to Carthage to take up rhetoric classes, and he would remain there for next nine years. There he meets Manichees Bishop, Faustus. He was completely disappointed with Faustus lack of knowledge. He then moves to Rome to meet the best and brightest rehtoricians as per his belief, but it too was shattered as the students in Roman schools simply fled when it was time for them to pay fees. He then moves to Milan and occupies a most visible position in latin world. It is here his actual conversion towards christianity began after hearing the sermon of St.Ambrose, Bishop of Milan he gave up  Manichaeism. St.Ambrose had most influence over Augustine. Ambrose was a master of rhetoric like Augusitne, but older and more experienced.


Quotes: "O Thou my exceeding mercy, my God, my refuge from those terrible destroyers, among whom I wandered with a stiff neck, withdrawing further from Thee, loving mine own ways, and not Thine; loving a vagrant liberty."


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God Our Protector

By Prajapathi bhat

Suresh was a bright boy in his class up to 10th standard. He topped in everything curricular
activities and also co-curricular activities like sports, skits, quiz. After completing his 10th when
he joined Pre-University course or 11th standard his interest towards curricular and co-curricular
activities declined. Slowly he underwent depression and lost some subjects in his 12th standard academic exams. The reason for this downfall was his focus only on himself and how he could get good marks; sometimes he didn’t even bother to cater to his friends problems or thank God. Suresh was bearing the consequences of being selfish and proud.

Though Suresh was under depression, he still trusted God. He used to pray whenever he got time. After his 12th standard board exams, just before the results he got a chance to attend a retreat at ‘Divine Retreat Center’, Muringoor, Kerala. There after various spiritual sessions and counseling he finally was freed from selfishness. God heard his prayers and he got pass marks in
12th standard, which none expected. God is our Protector.

Yes From above real life story of Suresh we come to know that God protects his children, whatever it takes! Now Suresh is leading a wonderful life with Christ filled with Joy. As the Bible says “...Acknowledge me through all thy ways and I shall direct thy path…”, so shall be our life with Christ. God protects us from all traps and tricks the world lays for us. Isn’t it wonderful to live with God our creator?

Let’s surrender ourselves before God. Let us thank him at least at the end of the day, before we go to sleep. Let’s pray at least once a day. Let’s read the bible at least once a day. Most of us neglect these basic soul needs and then regret. Our soul does needs food and its nothing but prayer.

Prayer: God enlighten our mind. Help us to accept you and to be one with you. We thank you for all the good you have done to us so far. Thy will be done oh God. Amen

Prayer Brings Victory

By Prajapathi bhat

I saw this word crypted on a rear window of a Car, which made me think- does prayer bring victory? The obivious answer which every human being will agree is yes, prayer does gives us victory. May it be a hindi movie or real life, prayer makes miracle happen. It has got tremendous power. But how many of us really believe in this concept?

Prayer food for our soul - there is no food for our sould except prayer. It enriches our souls and saves us from spiritual poverty! As young most of us easily succum to smoking, alcohol and pornography, which makes us spiritually poor. People who can`t overcome these menances are on the brink of loosing their life. When we pray it gives us power over these three evils and shows us the true meaning of life. Prayer helps us to enjoy life to the fullest.

Our Father - it is the most popular and accepted prayer throughout the world. Short and sweet our father is recited to us by our own Lord Jesus Christ. Whether you are depressed or finding yourselves in a tough situation, you have a free remedy and that is 'Our father'. Since the Bible says "all things came from him...", via our father we call the creator and ruler of living and dead to intervene in our present situation. Beautiful isn`t it.

Pray and you will recieve- Bible stresses a lot on the importance of prayer. Prayer fills us with love, faith and home. In most of my desparate situation i pray and i find the needed attitude to deal with the situation. It strengthens our oneness with God our creator and gives us sufficient energy to deal with evil. Then why delay to pray?

Rosary- Our routine but powerfull prayer. Reciting the rosary daily gives solutions to our problems, may it simple or serious. Jesus is the answer to all our questions and solutions to all our problems. We get a chance to talk to him daily via Rosary. Let`s remember God, heaven, angels and Mother Mary are more real then we even think they are. Hence not only prayer is our tool to get victory, but also our medium through which we show our responsibility towards God by praising him for all that he has given to us so far.

Dont lose your soul.

By Anil Melwin Machado

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

How little attention does this infinitely important subject gain in the world! How few consider the salvation of their precious souls, as the great business of life! You who are reading these lines, did you ever consider it? Did you ever lay it to heart, and are you acting accordingly? If this is the case, the following language will express your heart-felt convictions:

" I have a soul as well as a body. My soul must live for ever in happiness or misery. It is capable of pain or pleasure inconceivably greater than my body. It is a matter of comparitively little importance whether I am in abject poverty or the greatest affluence, during the few years I am to continue in the present world; whether I am respected or despised by my fellow mortals; whether my body is sickly or healthy, painful or at ease. These are matters of small consequence; death is certain, is near. 'Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,' must soon be pronounced over my lifeless body. In a dying moment, if I could call the whole world my own, what good would it do me? What comfort could it afford me?

But whether my soul is to be happy or miserable; the companion of angels and saints made perfect around the throne of God, or doomed to weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, with devils and damned spirits in hell, where the worm never dieth and where the fire never will be quenched; this is the momentous inquiry I ought to make. To escape from the wrath to come, and secure an inheritance among the saints in light, ought to be my great concern. Is it so? Which world is most in my thoughts, this or the next? What am I most anxious about? Am I not often inquiring, what shall I eat, what shall I drink, or wherewithal shall I be clothed? But when did I seriously inquire, 'What shall I do to be saved?' If I have no prevailing concern about my soul, I may be certain my state is bad, and its danger awfully great."

UNEMPLOYED GRADUATE

An unemployed graduate woke up one morning and checked his pocket. All he
had left was $10. He decided to use it to buy food and then wait for death
as he was too proud to go begging. He was frustrated as he could find no
job, and nobody was ready to help him.

He bought food and as he sat down to eat, an old man and two little
children came along and asked him to help them with food as they had not
eaten for almost a week. He
looked at them. They were so lean that he could see their bones coming out.
Their eyes had gone into the socket. With the last bit of compassion he
had, he gave them the food.. The old man and children prayed that God would
bless and prosper him and then gave him a very old coin. The young graduate
said to them 'you need the prayer more than I do'.

With no money, no job, no food, the young graduate went under the bridge to
rest and wait for death. As he was about to sleep, he saw an old newspaper
on the ground. He picked it up, and suddenly he saw an advertisement for
people with old coins to come to a certain address.


He decided to go there with the old coin the old man gave him. On getting
to the place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The proprietor screamed,
brought out a big book and showed the young graduate a photograph. This
same old coin was worth 3 million dollars. The young graduate was overjoyed
as the proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3 million dollars within an
hour. He collected the Bank Draft and went in search of the old man and
little children.

By the time he got to where he left them eating, they had gone.. He asked
the owner of the canteen if he knew them. He said no but they left a note
for you. He quickly opened the note thinking it would lead him to find
them.

This is what the note said: 'You gave us your all and we have rewarded you
back with the coin,' signed God the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. 1
Kings 17:10-16; Matthew 11:28-30

PRAYER:
Here is your financial blessing! It's a simple prayer, you've got 30
seconds. If you need a financial blessing,continue reading this post.

Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God,
I pray to you that you abundantly Bless my family and me. I know that you
recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister,
brother husband and wife, but all Who believe and trust in you.

Father, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the
person who sent this to me, but for Me and all that I have forwarded this
message on to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and
trust in you is more powerful than anything.

I thank you in advance for your blessings.
Father God, deliver the person reading this right now and those who will
read it in the near future from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly
wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father,
for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and
walk in Your word and have the faith of a Mustard seed that You will pour
out blessings.
I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the
blessings yet to come Because I know You are not done with me yet.
In Jesus name, I pray,
Amen

My Jesus

God`s Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to
visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into
complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee,
the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee
and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain
looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves
to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If
you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving
behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only
the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases
it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously
went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now
consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society
are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of
cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee
God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee! "The
happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best
of everything."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to
God.