St. Augustine

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the character of St. Augustine (354-430) as seen within his "Confessions", which he wrote as a long epistle to God in midlife, marks a distinct turning point in the life, attitudes and values of Augustine the man. It looks at how the content of Augustine's "Confessions" itself points to personality traits of Augustine which include honesty, sincerity, humility, piety, a capacity for self-reflection, and a desire for self-improvement.

From the Paper:

"In Book II [The Pear Tree] Augustine confesses to God his past carnal wickedness: "I propose now to set down my past wickedness and the carnal corruptions of my soul, not for love of them but that I may love Thee, O my God" (p. 1226). He also confesses to stealing pears from a pear tree in his youth, not because he was hungry or otherwise needed them, but because "Our only pleasure in doing it was that it was forbidden" (p. 1227). Acts like these were, however, merely idle mischief to Augustine at the time, since he had not yet learned how to serve God, or even to begin to understand the central importance, to his life, of serving God, that he understands now. "

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