nverted shortly before dying. Monica, Augustine’s mother, was a devout Christian and tried to raise her son as one also. Augustine was a natural born leader in school, but at the age of sixteen he was forced to leave because his father could no longer pay the tuition fees. Augustine turned to alcohol, gambling, and prostitutes. A year later Augustine was able to return to school and studied law. When his studies were completed at the age of eighteen he became a teacher. Augustine, despite his mother’s wishes for him to be a Christian, became a Manichaean. Manichaeans believed that one god created good and another created evil, and that therefore no one was responsible for his or her sins. Monica fervently prayed for her son’s conversion, but he was stubborn and refused to do so. A year later, while teaching in Milan, Augustine met Plato and Bishop Ambrose. Soon Manichaeism became increasingly dissatisfying for Augustine. He became fascinated with the teachings of Plato and was soon convinced that there was a single god. Augustine even began attending mass to hear Ambrose preach. It seemed as if Augustine was working to reform his life, but soon his “lust” took over and he reverted back to his previous ways. Augustine continued to teach, but his heart and soul felt empty. One day while sitting outside he heard a group of children chanting. Suddenly inspired by their words, he picked up a bible and began to read. Augustine was so struck by what he read that he was later baptized by Ambrose at the age of thirty-three.Augustine set up a small monastery in his hometown after his mother died. Shortly after, he became a priest, and four years later was elected bishop of Hippo. Augustine’s most famous contribution to the church is “The City of God”, which was written over a twelve-year period. In this piece of literature, Augustine addressed all those who blamed Rome’s downfall on the Christ...
