St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine of Hippo, born in 354 in Thagaste (modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria), is one of the most influential figures in Christian history. His early life was marked by intellectual curiosity and moral struggle. Raised by a devout Christian mother, St. Monica, and a pagan father, Patricius, Augustine pursued a secular education in rhetoric and philosophy. He initially embraced Manichaeism, a dualistic religion, and later Neoplatonism, before his dramatic conversion to Christianity in 386. This pivotal moment, famously recounted in his autobiographical work Confessions, occurred in a garden in Milan, where he heard a child’s voice chanting, “Take up and read.” He opened the Bible to Romans 13:13-14, which inspired him to abandon his former life of sin and dedicate himself to God. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose of Milan in 387 and returned to North Africa, where he was ordained a priest in 391 and later became Bishop of Hippo Regius (modern-day Annaba, Algeria) in 396. He served as bishop for 34 years, during which he wrote extensively, defended the faith against heresies, and shepherded his flock with wisdom and compassion.