Augustine of Hippo
Christian theologian, philosopher, and saint (354–430)
Feast: 28 August (current Roman calendar, memorial) · 28 August (1962 Missal, III class)
Who they were
Augustine was born at Tagaste in Africa on 13 November 354 and raised in the faith by his mother Monica, but did not follow it. A brilliant student of rhetoric at Madaura and Carthage, he loved pleasure and the theatre, took a concubine, and at nineteen had a son, Adeodatus. Reading Cicero's Hortensius set him searching for wisdom; he found the Bible crude and joined the Manichees for years. In 384 he became professor of rhetoric in Milan.
He went to hear Bishop Ambrose for his eloquence and was moved by what he said. In August 386, weeping in a garden, he heard a voice say 'Take and read', opened St Paul's letters, and was converted; Ambrose baptised him on the night of 24-25 April 387. Back in Africa he was made priest almost by force at Hippo, then its bishop for over forty years. He wrote against the heresies of his time, and left the Confessions, The Trinity, The City of God and countless sermons and letters. He died on 28 August 430.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: Augustine has been honoured as a saint since his death. He is a Doctor of the Church.
Why that counted as sanctity
Augustine's life is the story of a restless heart that found rest only in God. After years of pleasure and error he gave himself entirely to Christ, and his writings have taught the Church for sixteen centuries how grace works in a human life.
Connected on this site
- Albertus Magnus Saint Influenced by them
- Ambrose Saint Influenced them“He also had a notable influence on Augustine of Hippo (354–430), whom he helped convert to Christianity.” — Wikipedia
- Monica of Hippo Saint Parent, Mother
- Prosper of Aquitaine Saint Pupil“455 AD), also called Prosper Tiro, was a Christian writer and disciple of Augustine of Hippo, and the first continuator of Jerome's Universal Chronicle.” — Wikipedia
- Thomas Aquinas Saint Influenced by them“Thomas Aquinas.” — Wikipedia
- Boethius Blessed Influenced by them
- Alypius of Thagaste Saint“He was a lifelong friend of Augustine of Hippo and joined him in his conversion (in 386; Confessions 8.12.28) and life in Christianity.” — Wikipedia
- Armentarius of Pavia Saint“The transfer of Augustine of Hippo's remains from Sardinia to San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, although sometimes attributed to Armentarius, probably occurred during the tenure of his successor, Peter, uncle of King Liutprand.” — Wikipedia
- Boniface I Saint“He was a contemporary of Augustine of Hippo, who dedicated to him some of his works.” — Wikipedia
- Caesarius of Arles Saint“Among those who exercised the greatest influence on Caesarius were Augustine of Hippo, Julianus Pomerius, and John Cassian.” — Wikipedia
- Gregory I Saint“Generally regarded as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers in the history of the Catholic Church, he is one of the four Great Latin Church Fathers, along with Ambrose, Jerome, and Pope Gregory I.” — Wikipedia
- Jerome Saint“Jerome is recognized as a saint and, along with Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo and Pope Gregory the Great, as one of the four Great Latin Church Fathers by the Catholic Church.” — Wikipedia
7 more
- Marcellinus Saint“The claim is rejected by others, including Augustine of Hippo.” — Wikipedia
- Marcellinus of Carthage Saint“He was secretary of state of the Western Roman Empire under Roman emperor Honorius and a close friend of Augustine of Hippo, as well as a correspondent of Saint Jerome.” — Wikipedia
- Melania the Elder Saint“She was a contemporary of, and well known to, Abba Macarius and other Desert Fathers in Egypt, Jerome, Augustine of Hippo, Paulinus of Nola (her cousin or cousin-in-law; he gives a colorful description of her visit to Nola in his Letters), and Evagrius of Pontus, and she founded two religious communities on the…” — Wikipedia
- Peter of Pavia Saint“Augustine of Hippo was removed to Cagliari, Sardinia by the Catholic bishops whom the Arian king of the Vandals Huneric had expelled from north Africa.” — Wikipedia
- Possidius of Calama Saint“Possidius (5th century) was a friend of Augustine of Hippo who wrote a biography and an indiculus or list of his works.” — Wikipedia
- Saint Aurelius Saint“A friend of Augustine of Hippo, he was bishop of Carthage from about 391 until his death.” — Wikipedia
- Catherine de Pallanza Blessed“Caterina Moriggi (1437 - 6 April 1478) was an Italian Roman Catholic who became a professed religious and adhered to the teachings and traditions of Augustine of Hippo.” — Wikipedia
- Vatican News - Saint of the day (Italian): Augustine of Hippo
- Wikidata Q8018 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Augustine of Hippo (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.