Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality) Summary and Reviews

Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality)

List Price: ~~$26.95~~
Our Price: $15.98
You Save: $10.97 (41%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.69 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

Translator: Mary T. Clark
Edition: Paperback
Audio: Latin (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1984-10
ISBN: 0809125730
Number of pages: 544
Publisher: Paulist Press

Book Reviews of Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality)

Book Review: The "Grace and Free Will" of St. Augustine
Summary: 5 Stars

In this superlative volume of The Classics of Western Spirituality series, "Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings," St. Augustine's Trinitarian thought is gracefully explained and examined with lucid clarity in Mary T. Clark's Introduction. For example, the differences between Augustinian Theology and Plotinian Neoplatonism: Augustine's belief in the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit being one and co-equal, and Plotinus believing in The One (God), the Intellectual-Principle (the mind of God, i.e., His image, which is inferior to The One--created by The One), and the Reason-Principle (the soul of God, which is inferior to The One and its cause, the Intellectual-Principle). Augustine adopted from Plotinus "that the spiritual icon is always in immediate contact with its exemplar, the higher intelligible that is its source" (i.e., God). Through Ambrose, Augustine "had found the 'wind' that would waft his bark safely to port in the Blessed Fatherland." So you can see why Augustine is considered Neoplatonic. Many of his beliefs were rooted in Plotinus' Neoplatonism of The One. He believed that God is intuitively known "through the supernatural knowledge possessed by the soul." Our faith and charity is what transformed it into the image of the Trinity. How Augustine's early beliefs formed and evolved into maturity are thoroughly examined, such as his (Augustinian speculation) original triad of the speculative intellect--memory, understanding, and free will. Also elucidated is his belief that Grace is superior to free will, which all modern Christians naturally believe. Before Augustine, the opposite opinion was the prevailing view. And whether or not he was a mystic is discussed in depth. Obviously, he was a mystic is the answer that the majority of reputable scholars concluded. Personally, I think there's no doubt that Augustine was a mystic. He's probably the greatest mystic of the post Apostolic Fathers. The two mystical experiences he describes in "CONFESSIONS" with his friend, Alypius, in the garden (during his last great battle for conversion) and with his mother at the window reveal his mysticism. There's so much more information discussed in the Introduction, that it makes it worth the cost of the entire book. All the selections included in this volume have Introductory Notes, which are extremely helpful in explaining the writings. Here are the contents: "CONFESSIONS: Book Seven; Book Eight; Book Nine; Book Ten"; "THE HAPPY LIFE"; "HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS: Psalm 119: The Ascents of the Christian; Psalm 120: Our Confidence in the Lord; Psalm 121: The Ecstacy of Love; Psalm 122: God Is True Wealth"; "HOMILY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN: Treatise Seven"; "ON THE TRINITY: Book Eight; Book Fourteen"; "ON SEEING GOD; ON THE PRESENCE OF GOD: Letter 147: Augustine to the Noble Lady, Pauline, greeting; Letter 187: On the Presence of God"; "THE CITY OF GOD: Book Nineteen"; and "THE RULE OF ST. AUGUSTINE". One must read for him/herself St. Augustine's writings in order to truly comprehend the depth and breath of this most graceful and sublime saint's faith. If philosophy is the handmaiden of theology, then Augustine is the master. I highly recommend this outstanding volume, and I hope my review is worthy of such a profound volume as this one certainly is. Blessed art thou, St. Augustine!

Write your own review

Religion & Spirituality Books

Book Subjects

Most talked about in Transform Your Faith, List 5 of 7

Julian of Norwich: Showings (Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Edmund Colledge, James Walsh, Jean Leclercq
Paulist Press; Published: 1977-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops: ~~$22.95~~

The Collected Works of Saint John of the Cross
by Saint John of the Cross
I C S Publications, Institute of Carmelite St; Published: 1991-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.05
Price in other shops: ~~$18.95~~

Walter Hilton: The Scale of Perfection (Classics of Western Spirituality)
by John P. H. Clark, Rosemary Dorward
Paulist Press; Published: 1990-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.50
Price in other shops: ~~$17.95~~

Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias (Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Mother Columba Hart, Jane Bishop, Barbara Newman
Paulist Press; Published: 1990-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.50
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~

Hadewijch: The Complete Works (Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Mother Columba Hart
Paulist Press; Published: 1980-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~

Meister Eckhart, Vol .1: Teacher and Preacher
by Bernard McGinn, Frank Tobin, Elvira Borgstadt, Kenneth J. Northcott
Paulist Press; Published: 1986-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.50
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Meister Eckhart: The Essential Sermons, Commentaries, Treatises and Defense (Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Edmund Colledge, Bernard McGinn, Houston Smith
Paulist Press; Published: 1981-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Francis and Clare: The Complete Works (The Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Regis J. Armstrong, Ignatius C. Brady
Paulist Press; Published: 1986-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.95
Price in other shops: ~~$19.95~~

Sacrament of the Present Moment (Fount Classics) Image

Sacrament of the Present Moment (Fount Classics)
by Jean-Pierre De Caussade
Zondervan; Published: 1996-07-08; Paperback; Book

Abandonment to Divine Providence
by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
Image; Published: 1993-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.35
Price in other shops: ~~$11.95~~

Similar books summaries and other product reviews

John Cassian: Conferences (Classics of Western Spirituality)
Paulist Press; Published: 1985-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops: ~~$21.95~~

Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works (The Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Bernard of Clairvaux
Paulist Press; Published: 1987-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.90
Price in other shops: ~~$22.95~~

The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Penguin Classics)
Penguin Classics; Published: 2003-07-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.96
Price in other shops: ~~$14.00~~

Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Moses (HarperCollins Spiritual Classics)
by Harpercollins Spiritual Classics
HarperOne; Published: 2006-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.27
Price in other shops: ~~$11.95~~

John of the Cross: Selected Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality)
Paulist Press; Published: 1987-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.00
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Origen: An Exortation to Martyrdom, Prayer, and Selected Works
by Origen, Rowan A. Greer, Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Paulist Press; Published: 1979-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.95
Price in other shops: ~~$19.95~~

Augustine of Hippo: A Biography (New Edition, with an Epilogue)
by Peter Brown
University of California Press; Published: 2000-08-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.98
Price in other shops: ~~$22.95~~