Podcast Episode Details

St. Augustine of Hippo, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcast

St. Augustine of Hippo, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

• Born: 13 November 354
• Died: 28 August 430

In part 2 of their conversation, Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the transformative journey of St. Augustine from his baptism in Italy to his return to Africa, where he established a monastic community and eventually became a priest and bishop. Augustine’s profound transformation and commitment to spiritual renewal equipped him to compassionately address heresies like Donatism and Pelagianism, emphasizing the Church’s teachings on the efficacy of the sacraments and grace.

St. Augustine’s pastoral nature, his focus on communicating the faith in accessible ways, show his deep concern for individuals’ relationships with God. They also discuss the challenges Augustine faced during the Vandal invasion of North Africa, his final days filled with prayer and sorrow, and the lasting impact of his works, particularly “The Confessions,” which serves as a roadmap for spiritual growth.

His humility, intellectual brilliance, and dedication to the Church, makes him a timeless figure whose teachings continue to resonate in the Church today.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. How has the sanctifying grace of God transformed your life and deepened your commitment to constant renewal?
2. In what ways can you, like St. Augustine, approach those in error with compassion rather than intellectual superiority?
3. How do you understand and appreciate the teaching that Christ is the true minister of the sacraments, regardless of the priest’s worthiness?
4. How can you apply St. Augustine’s example of pastoral care, balancing intellectual rigor with a deep concern for the well-being of individuals?
5. In your efforts to evangelize, how can you simplify the message of the Gospel to make it accessible to all, as St. Augustine did?
6. Reflect on the humility required to confess your sins openly—what lessons can you draw from St. Augustine’s “Confessions” for your own spiritual journey?
7. How do you seek and experience the true rest that comes from surrendering to God’s love, as St. Augustine expressed in his famous dictum about the restlessness of the human heart?

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2008:

“After his Baptism, Augustine decided to return to Africa with his friends, with the idea of living a community life of the monastic kind at the service of God. However, whil

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Published on 2 weeks ago