The Confessions of St. Augustine

Bradley DiTeresi of Kansas City has earned degrees from the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. A faithful Catholic, Bradley DiTeresi enjoys reading the writings of the Doctors of the Church, including Catherine of Siena, St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales and St. John of the Cross. 

When a saint becomes a Doctor of the Church, Catholic leadership has recognized that individual’s global impact on the formulation of Christian teaching. The writings of these saints are applicable to Christians in any era. 

St. Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 A.D. in eastern Algeria, under the rule of the Roman Empire at the time. Though trained in Christianity as a child, as a young man Augustine lived a wild life full of sinful excesses. He also explored multiple heretical belief systems until his early 30s, when he experienced a dramatic conversion and began his life as a Christian. Later, Augustine became a priest, bishop, writer, and founder of an order of priests. He died in 430 A.D. in Hippo Regius in Numidia.

In Confessions of St. Augustine, his most well-known book, St. Augustine outlines his life prior to his conversion, “confessing” how the material world brought him nothing but pain, confusion, and grief. The saint contrasts this dark period of his life with a confession of the greatness of God and the importance of faith and belief.

In addition to the autobiographical portions of Confessions, St. Augustine explores philosophical and religious issues such as memory, time and eternity, and the book of Genesis. The book is widely recognized as one of the most influential Christian works of all time.

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