Summary Of Augustine's Confessions

Confessions is St. Augustine 's extended prayer of thanks to God. Augustine is raised in a Christian household, but as he grows older, his faith wanders and his soul becomes chained to lower goods. Through God 's grace, Augustine experiences a conversion in which his reason and will become one - his soul is finally at peace with God. Augustine 's journey towards restoring his faith and returning to God can be seen in how he reacts, and later reflects, on the deaths of Dido, his unnamed friend, Adeodatus, and Monica. From crying about a fictional character 's death to being happy for his mother 's union with God in heaven, Augustine 's ascent from sinfulness to faithfulness shows God 's greatness and fundamental love towards him.
As a young …show more content…
Monica is also taken to heaven. Because of "her holy way of life" (Conf. 9.22) that consists of praying and patiently waiting for Augustine 's soul to rejoin God, she is the hero of the story. Therefore, it is no surprise that her death illustrates Augustine 's most elevated thinking and closest relationship with God. Before her death, Monica and her son " 'reach forward to what lies ahead ' (Phil.3:13)", searching for the "presence of truth" which is God (Conf. 9.23). In addition, Monica and Augustine talk about the conversion within each person, the Vision of Ostia. There are three levels. The first level directs its attention outward, toward what is external to the mind. The second level directs its attention inward, to the mind itself. The third and highest level directs its attention to what is above the mind, towards God. Through these levels, the vision of eternity emerges, which is the ultimate fulfillment of human beings - joining oneself to God in heaven (Lec. Nov. 11). In comparison to the life of eternity, "the pleasure of the bodily senses...is not even worth considering"(Conf. 9.23). Monica knows that her death is near. At first, she wants to be buried next to her husband. However, she realizes that "nothing is distant from God" (Conf. 9.28). No matter where she her bones lie, God will bring her to her final home. Her final home is with God in heaven (Disc. Nov.14). Her only plea is for Augustine to remember …show more content…
In his extended prayer towards God, Augustine writes about four deaths. The first death that he encounters is Dido 's. Reflecting, Augustine writes that he should not have been saddened over a fictional character. Rather, he should have cried for his "heart [that] has wandered [away] from Him" (Conf. 4.18). Instead of reading about Aeneas and his destiny, Augustine should have learned how to save his soul, in order for him to later achieve eternal life with God in heaven. The second death that Augustine encounters is his unnamed friend 's. Although Augustine is heading into the right direction and weeps for one of God 's creations, Augustine is nowhere near God. Instead of being joyous for his friend 's ascension into heaven, Augustine grieves about life without his friend. The third death that Augustine experiences is his son 's death, Adeodatus. Although they share a relationship with God, Augustine still grieves over his son 's death. Later, however, Augustine reflects and is happy for his son 's union with God in heaven. The most important death that Augustine writes about is Monica 's. Before her death, Monica and Augustine converse about the ultimate fulfillment of humans – joining God in heaven. After her death, Augustine is conflicted about whether to feel grief or happiness. Ultimately, Augustine is happy for his mother. Through his reactions and reflections of these