Timeline of St. Augustine
There is charming medieval story which relates how on a certain occasion Charlemagne was discussing theology with the Englishman Alcuin and with the Spaniard St. Theodulph, Bishop of Orleans (d. 821) and author of the Gloria, laus et honor of Palm Sunday. The name of Augustine was mentioned in the discussion and at once the Emperor -theologian exclaimed: "Oh, if I had twelve Augustines in my Empire." To which Alcuin promptly gave answer: "God is God and is content with one!" And the Spaniard added: "Because there is no need for any other: Augustine's works contain all that is needed."
The Church seems often to side with good Bishop Theodulph. Augustine is the one author to whom she has recourse in all emergencies. The great African Doctor has ever been considered by her as one of the best gifts with which God has graced her. On her part she acknowledges how deep is her gratitude for this gift by her constant use of Augustine as her official spokesman: in the classroom, in the pulpit, in the confessional and at her liturgical worship. To take the Roman Breviary as an instance, St. Augustine is evidently considered by the Church the leading Homilist of all times.
St. Augustine's life is so well known that it needs no rehearsing. However, it is well worth emphasizing the fact that chronologically the Saint occupies the very centre of the golden period of the Fathers. He was a younger contemporary of the great Greek Doctors who fought Arianism, Athanasius (d. 373), Basil (d. 379), Gregory of Nazianzos (d. 390), John Chrysostom (d. 407), and of the Latins-Hilary (d. 366), Ambrose (d. 397) and Jerome (d. 419); and he was followed by another illustrious galaxy of Doctors-Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444), Peter Chrysologus (d.c. 450), Pope St. Leo the Great (d. 461), Prosper of Aquitaine (d.c. 463), Caesarius of Arles (d. 543) and Gregory the Great (d. 604). Augustine was certainly influenced by the former group of Doctors, for whom he had a great veneration, but as certainly he himself exerted a still deeper influence on the latter group, several of whom were his avowed disciples.
The salient events of St. Augustine's life are as follows:
- Nov. 13, 354 - Born at Tagaste in Numidia, Northern Africa. His father, Patricius, a minor government official (curialis) was a pagan: his mother, St. Monica, the ideal Christian wife.
- 370 - Sent to continue his studies at Carthage.
- C. 371 - Death of Patricius, who becomes a Christian on his death-bed.
- 372 - Birth of Adeodatus, the child of Augustine's concubinage.
- 373 - Augustine becomes a Manichaean.
- 383 - Transfers his chair of rhetoric to Rome, and shortly after, to Milan. Becomes a sceptic and then a Neoplatonist. Eventually resigns his professorship and retires to Cassiciacum near Milan.
- 386 - (September). Episode of the Tolle, lege.
- Apr. 24, 387 - "At Milan the Conversion of St. Augustine, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church. St. Ambrose the Bishop instructed him in the truth of the Catholic faith and baptized him on this very day." (Roman Martyrology).
- 387 - (Autumn). Monica dies at Ostia on her return journey to Africa with Augustine.
- 388 - (August). Augustine sails for Africa. With his son Adeodatus and some friends, he withdraws to an estate belonging to him near Tagaste to lead a common life of Christian perfection.
- 391 - Ordained priest at Hippo. Death of Adeodatus.
- 396 - Consecrated Coadjutor-Bishop to Valerius at Hippo. Succeeds Valerius as Bishop.
- 397 - Writes his Book of Confessions. (Throughout his episcopate he stands out as the model Bishop, preaching, writing, opposing Manichaeans, Donatists, Priscillianists, Arians, Pelagians, semi-Pelagians.)
- 410 - Fall of Rome.
- 427 - Writes his Retractiones.
- Aug. 28, 430 - Death of the Saint.
- C. 432 - St. Possidius, bishop of Calama, a disciple and intimate friend of St. Augustine, with whom he had been associated for some forty years, writes the Saint's life.
