Congratulations! You have officially survived the first full weekend without Lent Madness voting -- an activity that continues throughout the weekdays of Lent. Your reward? The long-anticipated Battle of the Augustines! Will it be Hippo or Canterbury? The choice, dear friends, is yours.
For those who didn't receive news of Friday's results (and you can always go back to the original post or check the Bracket tab), Raymond Nonnatus ripped apart John of Nepomuk 83% to 17%.
We also have good news to report on ReviewGate, the controversy that recently touched the inner sanctum of Lent Madness. Last Friday we shared the news that someone had (shockingly!) given Lent Madness a 2-out-of-5 rating on our Facebook page. In fact, over the years we had garnered a 4.8 star rating. That might seem high but when you consider yourselves "Supreme" that's just not good enough. Thanks to the hundreds of Lent Madness fans who shared our outrage and posted their own reviews, we are up to a full 5-out-of-5 star rating with nearly 1,000 reviews. In other words, all is now right with the Lenten world.
Augustine of Hippo
Fourth-century Bishop Augustine of Hippo is, along with Paul of Tarsus, one of the most influential theologians of the Western Church. His writings on creation, the sacraments, the Church, the Trinity, and grace are considered seminal works of Western theology. While Augustine’s work is often described as academic—and occasionally bordering on pedantic—Augustine also exhibited vulnerability, as is memorably seen in his Confessions.
From a young age, Augustine avoided saintly living. While his mother Monnica raised him as a Christian, he was never baptized. He abandoned Christianity in his youth, studying rhetoric, philosophy, and Manichaeism, a chief religious rival to Christianity in North Africa. Augustine lived a free and unconstrained life for fifteen years living with a woman and fathering a child outside the bonds of marriage. He eventually abandoned his relationship, moving to Rome to start a school and finally to Milan to serve the court as a professor of rhetoric. Augustine fell under the influence of Ambrose, Milan’s bishop, and he reached his own religious crisis, which he describes at length in his Confessions. In 387, Ambrose baptized Augustine on Easter Eve, and Augustine found the rest in God for which his heart had so longed. He returned to North Africa and lived a quasi-monastic life as a layperson until 391 when—against his own will—he was seized by the community around him and ordained as a priest. Within four years, he had been ordained to the episcopate, and he served as Bishop of Hippo until his death in 430.
Augustine’s breadth of life experience, his profound intellect, and his prayerful demeanor are evident in his writing. Augustine countered the Manichaeans’ insistence on the existence of a force in eternal opposition to God, affirming instead the goodness of creation. He defended the doctrine of the Trinity, arguing for the rationality of the three-in-one and one-in-three nature of God. Augustine asserted that the church is holy because of the calling its members receive from God. Above all, Augustine’s theology is rooted in a deep yearning and desire for God and a profound sense of the importance of the community of the Church and of all its members.
Collect for Augustine of Hippo
Lord God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: Help us, following the example of your servant Augustine of Hippo, so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Augustine of Canterbury
Details of Augustine’s early life are sketchy. He was born in sixth-century Rome, most likely into an aristocratic family. He is thought to have been a student of Felix, Bishop of Messana, who was a contemporary and friend of Pope Gregory the Great.
Often called the Apostle to the English, Augustine began his journey to Canterbury in 596 CE, after Pope Gregory called him to lead a group of forty (mostly monks) to the kingdom of Kent in Britannia. Travel was treacherous, and the group returned to Rome after reaching Gaul, where tales of Britannia frightened them. Pope Gregory was not sympathetic and promptly sent them back on their way, where they landed on the Isle of Thanet in 597.
The Kentish people met the monks’ ministry with interest and hospitality. Though Christianity had been previously established in southeastern Britain, many Christians had gone into hiding following the Saxon conquest. Augustine’s arrival allowed Christians to be more open about their faith. King Æthelberht of Kent was married to Queen Bertha—a Christian—and Æthelberht responded kindly toward Augustine and his fellow monks, allowing them to use an old church from the Roman occupation located in the village of Canterbury. From this modest beginning, the parish church and the town were transformed into the center of Augustine’s work and ministry.
Pope Gregory suggested—and Augustine complied—that Augustine purify rather than destroy the area’s pagan temples and practices. Working with local traditions, Augustine and his brothers spread Christianity while retaining some of the cultural traditions of the Kentish people. Augustine evangelized widely, establishing churches and schools, celebrating the sacraments, and baptizing converts. Augustine is reported to have baptized thousands of people on Christmas Day 597.
Augustine was seated as the first Archbishop of Canterbury in 597, forming the first link in an unbroken, unwavering succession of Archbishops of Canterbury. Augustine died on May 26, around 604, in Canterbury, where he is buried. His feast is celebrated on May 26.
Collect for Augustine of Canterbury
O Lord our God, by your Son Jesus Christ you called your apostles and sent them forth to preach the Gospel to the nations: We bless your holy Name for your servant Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, whose labors in propagating your Church among the English people we commemorate today; and we pray that all whom you call and send may do your will, and bide your time, and see your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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321 comments on “Augustine of Hippo vs. Augustine of Canterbury”
Voted for Hippo because I love Canterbury, because he did not force Christianity on the English but let them keep some of their own culture and beliefs and because he was a friend of St. Gregory the Great, since I attend St. Gregory Episcopal church.
One thing I learned about Hippo while preparing to vote, which I haven't done yet, was that he was very concerned with the interaction of theology and science. Basically he said that a literal interpretation of Scripture shouldn't conflict with science, so if it did, it should be replaced with a metaphoric interpretation. One scholar says that if the Church had followed his lead, the theory of evolution would have been adopted much earlier.
Oops, meant to say I voted for Augustine of Canterbury, not Hippo.
Not only was Augie of H a bishop, wrestling for years with all the issues that come with that job, his writings show a person using his intellect, faith and compassion to wrestle with the Big Issues. I remember being amazed at how he went after literalist interpretations of the bible by pointing to inconsistencies in the texts. He'd be great on a talk show.
I alluded to that in an earlier post. I absolutely love that about him. He thought that God created everything at the same time, and if he had known about the Big Bang, I'm sure he would have been all over it. I can imagine myself sitting on a couch with him, watching Cosmos (either one) with a bowl of Doritos and salsa!
See the other comments above. A of Hippo's child abandonment has been debunked.
David wasn't clear in his writing in re: the historical reality. See other comments by others above debunking child abandonment charges.
Huh?
I voted for Augustine of Hippo and Pelagius wh0 following in his footsteps established the Celtic Church's emphasis on the presence of God at the heart of all life and within all people that prepared the ground for a clash with Augustine of Cantebury's Roman mission of 597 and it was this discord that led to the Synod of Whitby's decision against the Celtic misson in 664. The most significant concept to emerge at the Synod of Whitby was the Celtic perception of John listening for the hearbeat of God. It revealed that this tradition did not begin with the Celtic Church and people like Pelagius but was part of an ancient stream of contemplative spirituality. I would like to have seen a greater acceptance of the Celtic Church's practices by Augustine of Canterbury's mission and therefore voted for Augustine of Hippo.
It is a given that Augustine will win today. And you can take that to the bank.
After reading the comments I decided to vote for Augustine of Canterbury because he was an Archbishop and out ranks the Bishop of Hippo. And because he overcame his fears to carry out his part of the Great Comission.
Though I do wonder if the author of Augustine of Hippo's bio isn't showing bias. The drawing of AoH is unflattering and makes him look like he is lacking in the fruits of the Spirit, plus there is the (intentionally?) misleading bit alleging child abandonment on the part of AoH.
The SEC should investigate the ability of celebrity bloggers to remain at least neutral if not supportive in writing on the cause of their saint(s).
Gotta say that I'm appalled by the lack of sense of forgiveness about Hippo's supposed faults with previous lover and child by so many. None of us of course have had any such difficulties... oops... those 50% of we divorced Episcopal clergy must not be voting.
Heaven for fend that someone might leave their old live's behind and be born again....
I voted for Augustine of Canterbury mostly because Oliver did and Oliver just seems to get it - he picks the Saints who are winners. I did have some personal reasons as an Episcopalian/Anglican, but it was mostly Oliver. Keep going strong Oliver!!
I'm voting for Augustine of Canterbury in spite of the rah rah, unsubstantiated, feel good rhetoric of his supporters today. I'm voting for him because he is the patron saint of my parish, which I love more than anything in this world, except for my cats and of course my Mom.
I'm voting for him because:
He was a chicken. The only reason he went to England is because Gregory made him.
He was a bull in a china shop. His gaffe with the Celtic Elders cost the church in Britain dearly.
And basically the only good he accomplished was in following Gregory's instructions.
Well, I can be a chicken, and I can be a bull in the china shop, and I need all the wise counsel I can get, so Canterbury gives me hope. Augustine of Canterbury tells me God can use me too.
Having said that, as you might be aware, I've been relentlessly advocating for the other Augustine all day, and might very well continue to do so, especially when folks make untrue and hurtful claims about him. But the research I've done on him has been a great blessing for me. I've learned so much, and appreciate him so much more than I ever would have if I didn't take Lent Madness as a spiritual discipline.
Regardless of who wins, I'm grateful.
What?! Canterbury?? I'm shocked! Shocked, I say! I did NOT see this coming, Freeman!
Right! Well, I was always going to vote for Canterbury, but I really really wanted him to win for the right reasons, which is why I was advocating for Hippo. I didn't want my Augustine to win because people were voting against Hippo. And as it turned out, even the people that weren't voting against Hippo weren't getting it right, either. Canterbury was very flawed and I love him because of that, and in spite of that.
As a devotee of St. Monnica, I had to vote for Augustine of Hippo.
Monnica is not how you spell St. Monica's name...
Page 28 of The Book of Common Prayer 1979 says: "Monnica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387" (emphasis added).
Monnica is on her tombstone...unless the stone mason had one too many....
Could there have been an Augustine of Canterbury without an Augustine of Hippo? I'm not sure, but Hippo's writings on the Trinity win for me... and another North African Christian in this year's Lent Madness. Let's not forget our brothers and sisters in Christ on that continent who are suffering gravely due to religious persecution.
I'm semi-famous for writing additional lyrics to "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" for individual Christ followers. Alec Wyton was even considering them for the new hymnal (which never came to be in his time). Augustine of Hippo was one of the first ones I wrote.
A philosophical search for truth, marked St. Augustine's youth.
At first a sinner his life was changed when the Lord made him see anew.
He wrote his Confessions, The City of God,
Theologians still to this day are awed.
He was full of faith and I would be proud
If I could be like him too.
I'm not sure "proud" is the right word but I can't remember the right one.
Blessed maybe?
I voted for Augustine of Canterbury because of his respect for pre-Christian traditions in his missionary/pastoral work.
I have concerns re Augustine of Hippo on a number of matters:
Firstly, I rather think that Aug.Hip. brought much of his Manichaean past into the Christian faith and was the spiritual father of the whole "sex is icky" mentality within Christianity. In being converted from Manichaeanism to Christianity, IMHO he sadly Manichaeanised Christianity.
Secondly, some of his teachings IMHO tend to lay a foundation to the predestination teachings of Calvin in a later era.
Thirdly, while he wrote about the Trinity, IMHO his writings tend to be the beginning of the western tradition of viewing the Trinity as something to "explain away" rather than the eastern tradition of viewing the Trinity as something to celebrate. I much prefer the mystery of the Trinity celebrated by the Cappadocians and Andrei Rublev to Augustine's minimalist Trinity.
So, for me it's Canterbury, Yes; Hippo, no.
I hear you. I love the following legend, though:
One day, grappling with the idea of one God in three Persons, he came upon a boy on the beach. The boy had dug a hole and was running to the ocean, filling his bucket with seawater, and then running back to his hole and pouring in it.
After watching the boy for a few minutes, St. Augustine asked him what he was doing. "I'm going to put the ocean in that hole," the boy replied. St. Augustine laughed and told the boy that was madness, the ocean would never fit! The boy then replied, "Then why do you think you can fit God into your mind?"
Upon saying that, the boy, who was an angel according to legend, quickly disappeared, leaving Augustine alone with the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.
From a 15th century book of saints’ lives by Jacobus de Voragine, The Legenda Aurea (Golden Legend).
Non-celebrity theologian here. I voted for Augustine of Hippo because I count him as a friend and a companion on the way. I deeply appreciate his turbulent love for God, his emphasis on reading Scripture with an eye towards charity, and above all his realism about how deeply human beings mess up their own lives and the lives of others - and the extent to which we need God's grace. And while I seem to be in the minority among commenters, I think the Filioque clause is doctrinally important and I'm in no hurry to get rid of it. If anyone is interested in reading him for the first time, the translation of the Confessions by Maria Boulding OSB is just beautiful and very accessible.
It does worry me to see people cheering for Pelagius. Y'all, Pelagianism is one of the cruelest heresies imaginable. It tells people that they are ultimately responsible for fixing themselves, and if you can't - that's ultimately your fault for not trying harder. I can't fix myself. I need Jesus and I need the grace of God in Christ, ultimately and completely.
Thank you for adding a voice of reason and grace to this conversation.
Who'd ever heard of kidnapping into a religious order? The other way around, sure, but INTO?!!!?? 😀
I voted for A. of Hippo for his defense of the Trinity and all the rest. He lived his life, no namby-pamby stuff or syrupy stories.
Face it, A. of Cantebury was a bit of a wuss for turning back. Had it been up to him he would never have gone to Britain. He only went because he was forced to by Gregory.
This was another toughie. I went with A of H because a priest friend gave me St Augustine's Prayer Book back in 1970. It has been something I have used many times. It just wouldn't be right not to go with Gus of Hippo!
I voted for Augustine of Canterbury. I liked it that he went along with the pope's recommendation about incorporating pagan beliefs instead of condemning them. I also didn't like it that the other Augustine left his family. Some on here say he kept in touch with his son, which is good, but what about his son's mom? They might not have been married but she may have really loved him. If so, that was cruel.
A. Hippo dissed his mother for years and abandoned his common law wife as well as his child. A. Canterbury was invitational and hospitable resulting in the building of schools and churches. I had a tough nun who would challenge any complaints or excuses with "Action speaks louder than words." Canterbury has my vote.
My goodness Auggie of Hippo looks grouchy in your portrait! And much too pale. Surely, coming from North Africa, he was a person of color. And one of the most influential theologians ever. That's why I voted with the Hippos (Hippies?) today.
We may all disagree with much of what A of H taught, yet we all stand on his shoulders. But what's with "I am too much a Celtic Christian to vote for Hippo"?! A of C was sent to England to suppress the Celtic Church and bring the Brits into line with Rome and its top-down authority. I am too much of a Celtic Christian to vote for Canterbury!
The lives of these two men are much too complex to be adequately represented in the brief blog allowed.
Monica vs Monnica; Monnica is the spelling on her tombstone, but Monica is the most commonly used spelling.
The Book of Common Prayer 1979 spells it with a double n on page 28. When in doubt spell it how the BCP does. Especially in the case of that also being reportedly what is on the Saint's tombstone.
I voted for Augustine of Hippo because I loved that he defended the "goodness of creation" and believed in people being called by God for ministry.
I really liked Augustine of Hippo because of his name.
It's not too late -- vote for Augustine of Hippo! Not only is he an important doctor of the church, contributing mightily to important doctrines we all hold dear, not only did he hail from Africa, becoming one of the earliest examples of sainthood from that too-often-forgotten continent, he actually shared his rocky path to Jesus by writing The Confessions - a journey believers have identified with through the ages. Like Augustine of Hippo and so many before me, I agree "our hearts are restless Lord, until they rest in You."
This miserable laptop keeps deleting my comments, so I'll start over. Hippo hands down. Canterbury was a theological "innocent" (did not feel that what you believed mattered), a bureaucrat who followed orders from Rome working tirelessly to suppress any Celtic influences in the Christianity of the British Isles. The Tudors would have loved him. On the other hand, Hippo was a person of color (born to a Berber mother) who tirelessly worked to rescue his flock from groups who took them as slaves--he begged for money from fellow Christians and paid many ransoms out of his own funds. Essentially he took over the functions of government (think of Hippo as a small failed state), and without him the people of that state would have been in terrible straits indeed. True, his theological speculations (clearly identified by him as such) caused difficulty from the first (Orthodox Christians have never recognized him as a saint), and his influence on the theology of Martin Luther was not wholly benign), but his life, works, and writings make him a more whole saint than Canterbury.
I don't like either of them. Hippo has a lot to answer for in terms of theology and Canterbury was in thrall to Rome and squeezed out our beautiful, earth-centred Celtic Christianity. I shall abstain.
This was the first matchup that had two candidates I didn't want to vote for.
It was a challenge, I must say. Although I quite enjoyed not voting!
While I appreciate Canterbury's incorporation of pagan traditions into Christianity (a plus for intercultural competence), Hippos's theological scholarship, his authorship of the The City of God, and his Confessions remain too important in the development of Christianity - have to vote for him. Agree about remembering the contributions of the early African church as well - fundamental. Hippo demonstrates true conversion and personal response to God's call. Good for you, Augustine of Hippo!
Have to go with Augustine of Canterbury because in a time when it was my faith or die. He used diplomacy and example to spread Christianity which is what we need to do now.
How can I not vote for the first Archbishop of Canterbury? I mean, isn't this an Anglican contest? Not to mention, Hippo's whole abandoning-the-mother-of-his-child-back-to-slavery-for-worldly-promotion thing. Though as a scholar of classical rhetoric myself, in some way this vote pains me ... Not least because I'd have expected a rhetorician to do the right thing!