I’m pretty sure Augustine was never in Prague because I’m pretty sure it didn’t exist in the early 4th century but if it did and if he had, he would have loved it! At least, that’s what I surmise as I get to know both Augustine through his Confessions and the Czech Republic via its rich history and language. Located in the centre of Bohemia, the guide books portray Prague as a city of art, music and philosophy. All of which Augustine would have loved, perhaps to his detriment.
Much later Prague was home to John Huss, a 15th century reformer who found kinship with and inspiration from the Englishman turned ‘heretic’, John Wycliffe. Both men sought truth through the bible alone and what they found was quite different from the teaching of the institutional church at the time. John Huss was martyred in 1418 for his newfangled beliefs and the act set Bohemia on fire. The Hussites eventually joined the Lutherans but Huss is still remembered in Prague and through the Czech Republic as a courageous hero who fought for national freedom.
Freedom is never cheap. Neither is grace. After his conversion, Augustine lived his life in response to the costly gift of grace he received in his early thirties. His writings reveal an authentic search for happiness, which he found in the Truth of Jesus Christ. It’s taken me awhile to approach him through those writings. Some people are just plain intimidating. I thought he would be inaccessible with his penchant for rhetoric and philosophy and mine for homemade cookies, yarn and quilts. But he isn’t. Even to little me. He’s a really good guy, just trying to figure out life, just like the rest of us.
And just like me, I think he would like to visit Bohemia. Wouldn’t he make an inspiring travel companion? And wouldn’t it be oh, so cool if Mr. Huss and Mr. Augustine could connect somehow? I’d like to be in the room for that meet and greet!
Hey Sandi I have a friend who is a Catholic who has informed me that these are the thing Augustine believed. I have no answer for her what do you think?
Augustine believed in Baptismal Regeneration and Grace
“It is this one Spirit who makes it possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that infant is brought to baptism; and it is through this one Spirit that the infant so presented is reborn. For it is not written, `Unless a man be born again by the will of his parents’ or `by the faith of those presenting him or ministering to him,’ but, `Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit.’ The water, therefore, manifesting exteriorly the sacrament of grace, and the Spirit effecting interiorly the benefit of grace, both regenerate in one Christ that man who was generated in Adam” (Letters 98:2 [A.D. 412]).
“Baptism washes away all, absolutely all, our sins, whether of deed, word, or thought, whether sins original or added, whether knowingly or unknowingly contracted” (Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 3:3:5 [A.D. 420]).
Augustine Believed Baptism was Necessary for Salvation
“There are three ways in which sins are forgiven: in baptism, in prayer, and in the greater humility of penance; yet God does not forgive sins except to the baptized” (Sermons to Catechumens, on the Creed 7:15 [A.D. 395]).
“[According to] Apostolic Tradition . . . the Churches of Christ hold inherently that without baptism and participation at the table of the Lord it is impossible for any man to attain either to the kingdom of God or to salvation and life eternal. This is the witness of Scripture too” (Forgiveness and the Just Deserts of Sin, and the Baptism of Infants 1:24:34 [A.D. 412]).
However, he did allow for exceptions–what he called baptism of desire or blood(martyrdom).
“That the place of baptism is sometimes supplied by suffering is supported by a substantial argument which the same blessed Cyprian draws from the circumstance of the thief, to whom, although not baptized, it was said, `Today you shall be with me in paradise’ [Luke 23:43]. Considering this over and over again, I find that not only suffering for the name of Christ can supply for that which is lacking by way of baptism, but even faith and conversion of heart [i.e., baptism of desire] if, perhaps, because of the circumstances of the time, recourse cannot be had to the celebration of the mystery of baptism” (ibid., 4:22:29).
Augustine Believed in the Necessity of the Lord’s Supper for Salvation
“[According to] Apostolic Tradition . . . the Churches of Christ hold inherently that without baptism and participation at the table of the Lord it is impossible for any man to attain either to the kingdom of God or to salvation and life eternal. This is the witness of Scripture too” (Forgiveness and the Just Deserts of Sin, and the Baptism of Infants 1:24:34 [A.D. 412]).
Wow, it looks like you both went to a lot of effort to share your thoughts! Perhaps my thoughts on this would be best shared over a walk? Let me know. A good read in preparation, if you’re interested, is Confessions, translated by Chadwick.
My friend is looking forward to having a grandchild in May and made the comment that she wanted her grandchild to be baptised right away. I asked her why and where in the Bible she was taught this. She sent me Augustine’s writings from her Catholic teaching. When you wrote this I couldn’t help but think to send it to you. I will read ‘The Confessions”. Was pleased to find it on Kindle. I have never heard about John Huss and have read today a bit about his life. I think Augustine and Huss would have had a very interesting debate about theology because of Huss’s following of Wycliffe’s teachings.
Yes, all three of the men we have talked about have been considered heretics at some point. The thing with writing down our thoughts is that it immediately renders them frozen in time. I wonder about the journeys of these guys and how much of what they understood and professed changed under their practice of submission to the Spirit of God. All three had profound conversion experiences. I hope you like Confessions.
Interesting
There is another form of temptation, even more fraught with danger. This is the disease of curiosity. It is this which drives us to try and discover the secrets of nature, those secrets which are beyond our understanding, which can avail us nothing and which man should not wish to learn.” -”quote” from St. Augustine’s “Confessions”*
I also made note of this quote. What are your thoughts on Augustine’s comments regarding “the disease of curiosity”.