Tolle Lege!

Take up and read! Following his reading of Saint Paul and the Gospels, Augustine becomes more critical towards Platonist literature, which gave too much importance to science without revealing the essential - the humility of Christ, necessary to acquire to welcome God's revelation (Confessions VIII,9). Christ incarnate is the only way to reconfigure the heart of man burdened by sin. In order to move towards good, the mediation of Christ is necessary. 

Augustine's conversion to Christ takes place in August 386. While Augustine is struggling with apparently insoluble problems, he hears a voice that prompts him to take up and read: "Tolle Lege." Augustine grabs a Bible and reads the first things he sees: the letters of Paul to the Romans. He reads the call "to put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13, 13-14). Immediately, the flood of tears which is exhausting him runs dry. The darkness of doubt is receding. He also hears the call to welcome "the one who is weak in his faith," and realizes it is about his friend Alypius, who is with him at this very moment. Monica's heart sings in joy: her son finally found the rest that faith grants. 

The story of Marius Victorinus' conversion, famous rhetorician and renowned translator of Plotinus and Aristotle, impressed Augustine. An African official, Ponticianus, told him how two of his companions completely changed their life after reading the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert, and Augustine was moved by this testimony. These accounts could have helped Augustine make a decisive step forward, but he hesitated. Renouncing the works of the flesh, his "old friends", wasn't easy. 

But now, it was a done deal: Augustine will be a free man, totally available to God.

To be continued...

 Prayer for our conversion

Augustine hesitated much to give himself to God until he understood that all he had to do was to let God work in his life.

Lord our God, grant us to welcome you day after day, and to conform our life to the path of life you are inviting us to follow. 

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

Artwork: Mural art by Benozzo Gozzoli, 15th century. St. Augustine Chapel, San Gimigniano, Tuscany.