95 - St. Augustine: Convert, Sinner, Saint.

To wrap up our deep dive into the existence of God, in this episode we take a look at the life of St Augustine.

St. Augustine is a doctor of the church, and one of the greatest saints in the history of Christianity. But before his conversion, he spent his youth struggling with sin, heresy, vanity, and lust. He was the product of a culture that celebrated male sexual exploits as a sign of status and masculinity, and he felt that happiness was not possible for him without the freedom to satisfy his sexual appetites.

Although he was gifted and educated, and sincerely sought the Truth, Augustine's attachment to sin got in the way of a personal relationship with God. It took many years, and a lot of prayers and support from his mother and his friends, before he was able to reconcile himself to the Christian faith. Augustine struggled with many of the questions that people grapple with today: if God exists, why is there evil in the world? How can God say he loves us when he makes us suffer? Is chastity compatible with happiness?

Although Augustine lived 1600 years ago, his story is strikingly modern. His life demonstrates to us that God can always work miracles, and that it is never too late to turn back to him.

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References and further reading/listening/viewing:

Romans Chapter 13

The Confessions of St Augustine

Bishop Barron, "A Life of Heroic Sanctity: Augustine of Hippo"

The Catholic Encyclopedia, "St Augustine"

The Catholic Encyclopedia, "St Monica"