Today is the day set aside by the Church to commemorate the life of the great Augustine of Hippo who died on August 28, 430. Augustine’s last days were troublesome. He suffered from debilitating sickness and from troubling reports of the invading Vandals. His student and friend, Possidius, wrote of these days:
“We talked together very frequently and discussed the tremendous judgment of God enacted under our eyes saying, ‘Just art Thou, O God, and Thy judgment is righteous.’ Mingling our grief and groans and tears we prayed the Father of mercies and Lord of all consolation to vouchsafe to help us in our trouble. And it chanced on a day as we sat at the table with him and conversed, that he said, ‘Bear in mind that I am asking God in this our hour of tribulation, either to deign to deliver this town from the enemy that is investing it or if that seems not good to him to strengthen His servants to submit themselves to His will, and in any event to take me away from this world to Himself.’”
The last days of his life (while Hippo was under siege) were spent in prayers and tears. He had often said that no baptized person, even though he were a notable Christian and a priest should depart from the body without fitting and sufficient penitence. This was especially so for him as he remembered the sins of his youth. So, as his sickness progressed, he spent more and more time in prayer and in a repeated reading of the penitential Psalms which he had his friends write on a sheets of paper and hang on the wall over the foot of his bed so that he might have them always before his eyes. “From his sick bed he could see these sheets of paper every day, hanging on his walls, and would read them, crying constantly and deeply. And, lest his attention be distracted from this in any way, almost ten days before his death, he asked us that none should come in to see him, except at those hours when the doctors would come to examine him or his meals were brought. This was duly observed: and so he had all that stretch of time to pray. . . .” (Brown, Augustine, p. 432)
On August 28, 430, in the third month of the siege of Hippo, Augustine passed from this life to be with his Savior. His library and the proceeds of his autobiography (Confessions) he left to the church. But far more valuable, he left his own books to the Library of the Church of all the ages. It would never have occurred to him that he had sown seeds that would bear world-transforming fruit over a thousand years after his death. And now, more than 1500 years after his death, his books and writings are still read and appreciated. . . . and not just by one particular group of Christians but by men from every Christian communion. Amazing.
Happy Feast of St. Augustine!
St. Augustine is truly a giant among the Fathers of the Church. Dr. Francis Beckwith wrote – “St. Augustine, whose genius helped rid the Church of the Pelagian and semi-Pelagian heresies, would not be welcomed…as a faculty member at virtually any evangelical seminary, because the Bishop of Hippo accepted the deuterocanonical (apocryphal) books as part of the Old Testament canon, the deposit of sacred tradition, apostolic succession, the gracious efficacy of the Sacraments, the Real Presence of the Eucharist, baptismal regeneration,and the infusion of God’s grace for justification.”
well, I’m not so sure about him holding all those views (in the way they have come to be understood today) but at least this reminds us that even the greatest are imperfect in their understanding.
He did, all of them.
Steve, I am interested in asking an ironic question but a serious question. You mention that today is the day ‘set aside by the Church to commemorate the life of the great Augustine of Hippo who died on August 28, 430.’ First of all, I am over-the-moon that you all celebrate his Feast Day. But this brings up a number of questions for me.
What did the Church mean when it said She wanted to ‘memorialise’ St. Augustine’s life? Which ‘Church’ set this day aside and which Church has the authority to determine Feast Days of Saints? Who determined his canonization? These are questions that are part of the issues of authority surrounding a ‘cafeteria’ approach to liturgical life and spirituality. The Reformers rejected ‘Saint Days’ and memorial feasts so it becomes interesting for those remaining in Protestantism to answer the question of authority with regards to what is kept and what is not. In the end, it seems more and more to come down to the individual pastor in his own parish, which begs this question; ‘Was Luther right about one important point? That is, ‘Every man hath a pope in his own belly.’
I honestly can’t help but be reminded of the film ‘The Patriot’ when Gibson stands up against the call to fight the English and King George. He asks, ‘Why would you want to trade 1 tyrant 3,000 miles away for 3,000 tyrants 1 mile away?’ This question can be turned towards the ecclesial question: ‘Why should we trade 1 pope however far away for millions of popes right next to us?’ Which one do we listen to and WHY?
Perhaps this issue of authority of interpretation and setting the liturgical calendar could be a topic of discussion at the Pastor’s Conference in January? This is actually a serious issue that is very much a part of a Catholic hermeneutic that is decried pejoratively by the ‘Reformed’ towards ‘romanist Westminsterians’ and actualy ‘Romanists’. It is truly an interesting discussion to ask why have something like a Feast Day that is clearly ‘extra scriptura’. Is this a valid question? Something a bit more than a pious deference towards tradition when in congruent with the scriptures would be helpful. I do hope you all enjoy the celebrations!
With warm greetings,
Jeffrey
oh my, well we’re certainly Catholic Christians here, but of course, that makes us about as far from Rome as can be. It also means that most adherents to Rome would be extremely disappointed in our celebration. We honor Augustine because we seek to honor all our fathers and mothers in the faith. We don’t however, hold a single mass in his honor, nor do we address any prayers to him requesting his power to be exerted in saving us from sin or delivering us from danger. We don’t even celebrate on the day appointed! In short, our celebration contains nothing a really serious Romanist would be pleased with at all.
Further, we feel no compulsion to try to claim credit for everything good, right, and proper that has ever happened in the Church. And we actually view fellow Christians as equals with us and refuse to anathematize them for refusing to agree with our opinions when there is no clear scriptural support for them.
We try to avoid sectarianism and appreciate the good things our brothers have and seek to learn from them. All in all, as different from the Pope’s church as day is from night. So, I really can see no reason why this encourages you in the least.
Regarding the other questions, you know the answers already and they don’t satisfy you. I get it. And I disagree.
Steve,
Thank you very much for the response. Let me first of all say that I am not writing with hostility or uncharitable challenges I assure you. I count you as a dear friend and brother in Christ. The negative thing about email and blogging is you can’t hear tones and see cheeky smiles when writing. So, please hear me when I say that questions and challenges back and forth should not lead to hostility towards one another. As far as I’m concerned they don’t. It’s good for all of us to be challenged with the things we believe.
I know your integrity and how much you all try to be ecumenical etc. All of that is to be praised and I concur and celebrate all you seek to do in training your people in these ways. Some Feast Days are moveable and the Church does move some in order to disciple the faithful so that was not an issue.
My question basically boiled down to one really and that was how any pastor or congregation decides what to celebrate and when and for what reason? Why celebrate Augustine and not Mary or the entire Holy Family; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph? Perhaps you all do and I’m unaware but these are the questions that began to continually come before me.
How can I as an individual on my own make a determination of what is ‘good’ and ‘not good’ in the Church of 2,000 years? What theological, hermeneutical process occurs?
I don’t want to make you into a RC Christian that is for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide. But surely if there is ‘concern’ about people going to Rome questions could be asked of those of us who have with charity and understanding? Of course there were necessary reasons for Reform in the C15 and C16 but we read in Augustine’s writings that leaving the Catholic Church is never a part of the process of Reform. I believe that too of Augustine shoule be celebrated and honoured by following him in that.
Come over to England any time and I’ll happily buy you dinner and as many pints as you would like!
“My question basically boiled down to one really and that was how any pastor or congregation decides what to celebrate and when and for what reason?”
We happily submit to the judgment of the Church at this point. The Church believes that the supreme authority in these matters is the Holy Spirit speaking in the inspired Scriptures. Paul’s directives are pretty clear on this issue and we’re very happy to follow his inspired counsel.
Sorry, cause I know you were talking to Jeff in your last response, but…
What!?
KB
Steve, as someone who stood alongside you during a difficult time and supported you when people would give no response to your objective defence of your positions and now to have this from a friend like yourself is a hard pill to swallow. You know you didn’t answer my question.
Let me ask this since you rightly bring up the Holy Spirit…Do you think the Holy Spirit only speaks authoritatively in the written text of sacred scripture? Does he not continue to speak authoritatively through the Church, through history? Is there such a thing as development of doctrine and maturation? If he does still speak, in your understanding, how do you know to and through whom he continues to speak authoritatively? To whom do you look? If it is the judgment of the Church, which Church or in some cases ecclesial communions has the ‘right’ answer and judgment? Who speaks FOR the Spirit? Maybe if you define Church that could be helpful in answering my question.
Blessings to you and to yours!
J
well, I wasn’t trying to be cheeky, I really thought I answered your question — but in any case, here’s the real issue: You have chosen to believe the claims of the Roman church — that it is the one and only TRUE CHURCH. I believe those claims to be completely false. I believe that the Protestant tradition is the more faithful one and therefore it maintains the positions of the Catholic church far more faithfully (though imperfectly) than the Roman church ever has (post Trent). [So, I really don't believe the Pope, or anyone who agrees with him, is a Catholic.] You no longer believe this. I think you are dead wrong. I think you have believed a lie.
You are now obligated to believe that I am no longer a member of the “true Church” and therefore embrace the same error Peter fell into in Galatia. You can no longer claim me as a brother since I have to eat at a different table. I’m very sorry about that, but that’s the consequence of your position, not mine.
You, individually, made the decision to believe Rome and separate from the rest of your friends. I view that not only as a drastic misjudgment but as a breathtaking embracing of sectarianism. I honestly see no less “individualism” in your actions than I have seen in many of the most sectarian Protestants.
So, if you can claim that you’re holding to the “holy, authoritative tradition” while embracing what seems to me to be a whole host of unbiblical and erroneous views, then, I can’t see why I’m forbidden to make the same claim. I can far easier defend my views from Scripture than I can defend some of the fancies of the Roman church.
In the end, I’d rather be closer to the Bible. I rather be in a church that can sincerely love the brethren (without viewing them as “second-class” Christians or pronouncing anathemas on them). I’d rather be in a communion doesn’t claim to be the “one true, holy and apostolic church” and makes that claim while it refuses to discipline the Mafia.
So, thanks for the comments, but at this point, given your commitments and the obligations those commitments entail, I can’t see any profit arising from a discussion of these issues.
Steve wrote: I can’t see any profit arising from a discussion of these issues.
But there is profit from a Bucer session on “Romanism and Orthodoxy”, an upcoming Pastor’s Conference centering the evils of the Catholic Church, a podcast which portrays your Catholic brothers and sisters as idolators, any number of blog entries that charge 1.25 billion Catholics with grave sin, oh, and of course now you have advised the readers of The Avenue that we Catholics are also responsible for the Mafia…THE MAFIA!? Now I know why I like Frank Sinatra and the movie Goodfellas.
So Jeff and I drop in here, respectfully, in order: a) to point out the absolute harmony of Saint Augustine’s teaching and the doctrines of the Catholic Church, and b) to ask you to simply answer a few questions about your positions on memorializing saints and establishing feast days, the authority of the Church and the Spirit’s work in her midst, but you “can’t see any profit arising from a discussion of these issues.”
So there is obviously some overwhelming (critical) obsession with the Catholic Church happening in your camp, but apparently no intent to actually talk with Catholics when they show up, not ranting or raving, just pointing out historical facts and asking legitimate questions.
You could save everyone alot of time, and control the one sided flow of information more effectively, if you would just block/ban us Catholics from your site the way we have been blocked at Biblical Horizons. After all, what’s the point in bogging down the information highway some with actual ecumenical interaction between Catholics and Presbyterians?
What we have here is a one sided failure to communicate, and it is baffling…and laugh out loud funny.
Blessings and peace.
KB
[...] but I honestly don’t know why anyone, or any congregation outside of the Catholic Church would celebrate Saint Augustine by a feast, or even a tip of the hat, knowing his [...]
Howdy,
Just dropping by to talk to myself again.
I honestly don’t know why anyone, or any congregation outside of the Catholic Church would celebrate Augustine by a feast, or even a tip of the hat, knowing his Catholicity.
Augustine on the primacy of the See of Rome and apostolic succession –
Augustine on appropriating the name Catholic by those outside of the Catholic Church –
Augustine on the authority of the Catholic Church –
— St. Augustine (354–430): Against the Epistle of Manichaeus called Fundamental, chapter 4: Proofs of the Catholic Faith