Details

This is a truly special course about one of Christianity’s greatest figures.  Now, you can encounter St. Augustine through his own words.   This is one of those courses you will enjoy listening to again and again.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is unquestionably one of the most influential figures in Western Civilization.

St. Augustine "established anew the ancient faith," according to his rival and contemporary, Saint Jerome. A preeminent Doctor of the Church, saint and patron of the Augustinian religious order, his profound influence on Christianity remains evident.

This course will provide you with a comprehensive portrait, one might even say a self-portrait, of Augustine through his own writings and words. You'll encounter segments devoted to each of his best-known masterpieces (Confessions and City of God) and to each of his best-known controversies (against Manichees, Donatists and Pelagians). You will also examine the overlooked aspects of his career, such as his everyday work as a bishop, preacher and interpreter of the Bible.

These recordings draw on William Harmless's new book, Augustine In His Own Words (Catholic University of America Press, 2010). They bring together state-of-the-art scholarship and lucid translations in order to give listeners a first taste of Augustine as his contemporaries knew him: a theologian of masterful eloquence.

With this order you will receive, free of charge, a detailed electronic study guide. With your confirmation email, you will receive a link that will take you to this electronic study guide, which includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study. The link to access this electronic study guide will also be included on the case of your CDs or DVDs. You are allowed to print up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply click on the link or type it into your browser to access the file.

About Your Presenter

William Harmless, S.J., is Professor of Theology at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been a member of the Society of Jesus since 1978 and specializes in the history and theology of early Christianity. He is the author of Augustine and the Catechumenate (Liturgical Press, 1995), Desert Christians: An Introduction to the Literature of Early Monasticism (Oxford University Press, 2004), Mystics (Oxford University Press, 2008), and Augustine In His Own Words (Catholic University of America Press, 2010).

Topic Titles

• Introduction to Augustine the North African and the Young Augustine
• Augustine the Convert
• Augustine the Bishop
• Augustine the Preacher: Part I
• Augustine the Preacher: Part II
• Augustine the Exegete
• Controversies: Against the Manichees
• Controversies: Against the Manichees: Part II
• Controversies: Against the Donatists: Part I
• Controversies: Against the Donatists: Part II
• Controversies: On The City of God: Part I
• Controversies: On The City of God: Part II
• Controversies: Against the Pelagians: Part I
• Controversies: Against the Pelagians: Part II
• Augustine in Retrospect