Compiled by Lewis Loflin
In 386, Augustine (354–430) faced a turning point. Pontitianus, a fellow African, shared tales of monastic self-conquest, pricking Augustine’s pride—unlearned monks outdid his intellect (*Confessions* 8.6). With Alypius, he wrestled this in a garden, collapsing under a fig tree. A child’s voice—“Tolle, lege” (“Take up and read”)—led him to Romans 13:13–14: “not in rioting and drunkenness...” He saw it as divine, resolving to convert with Alypius, telling Monnica. My note: Reason questions such ‘heavenly’ prompts—pride, not God, drove him.
Augustine quit teaching, sought baptism from Ambrose, and retreated to Cassiciacum (modern Cassago Brianza, 47 miles NW of Milan) from late 386 to early 387. With Monnica, Alypius, Adeodatus, and pupils, he discussed philosophy and Vergil in calm (*Confessions* 9.3). Baptized Easter 387 in Milan, plans to return to Africa shifted when Monnica died at Ostia (*Confessions* 9.11). My note: Calm reflection beats dogma—his best phase.
In Rome through 388, Augustine lived quietly with Evodius (later bishop of Uzalis), writing against Manichaeans—his old sect—and starting *On Free Will* (finished 391). Back in Thagaste by late 388, with Alypius and Adeodatus (died young, c. 389), he lived communally, studying. In 391, he sold his inheritance in Hippo, founding a proto-monastic group, and was ordained presbyter under Valerius, reluctantly (*Sermon* 355). My note: Manichaean shadows lingered—reason sifts his shift.
From 391–395, Augustine matured as a presbyter. By Easter 391, he preached to baptismal candidates (*Sermon* 260). His monastery—possibly Africa’s first—began in a garden from Valerius, training clergy (*Letter* 211). He curbed church banquets by 395 (*Letter* 22), debated Manichaean Fortunatus in 392 (*Against Fortunatus*), and wrote *De fide et symbolo* for the 393 Hippo council. Synods (e.g., Carthage, 394) followed. His “Augustinianism”—sin, grace—solidified. My note: Reason sees dogma harden—free will fades.
Extract from IEP, 2001: http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/a/augustin.htm
