A Restless Heart
Augustine of Hippo, born in 354 in Tagaste, Numidia, spent much of his early life seeking fulfillment in ambition, intellectual pursuits, and sensual pleasures. Despite his success as a professor of rhetoric in Carthage and later in Milan, he found himself restless and unsatisfied. He famously noted, 'Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.'
The Garden Encounter
In Milan, Augustine's inner turmoil reached a peak. Caught in a conflict between his desires and a yearning for a deeper life, he pleaded, 'How long, how long? Tomorrow and tomorrow? Why not now? Why not this very hour make an end to my uncleanness?' It was here, in a garden in late August 386, that Augustine's life changed forever. In a moment of desperation, he heard a child's voice saying, 'Tolle lege' or 'Take up and read.' Interpreting this as a divine sign, Augustine opened the Scriptures, landing on a passage in Romans that spoke directly to his struggle.
Light Enters the Heart
He described the moment as a light of certainty entering his heart, sweeping away the darkness of doubt. 'It was as if a light of certainty entered into my heart, and all the darkness of doubt vanished away,' he recounted. From that moment, Augustine embraced Christianity, turning away from his previous life. He was baptized by Bishop Ambrose in Milan during the Easter Vigil of 387.
A Life of Service
After his conversion, Augustine's life was a testament to the transformative power of Jesus. He gave up his career, sold his inheritance to help the poor, and established a monastic community. He became a priest, and later the Bishop of Hippo, dedicating his life to serving others and writing works that would shape Christian thought for centuries. 'You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours,' he declared, giving full credit to God for his transformation.
