A Mess Turned to Beauty

The book Saint Augustine’s Confessions is his confession to God, which includes the story of his life. Telling of his childhood, Saint Augustine explains how he comes to Jesus and is saved after much sin. Here is a summary of his life up until conversion.

Born to a Roman official and his wife, Augustine grew up in a middle class home. Deeply concerned with his education his father spent a great deal of money getting him into the best schools, but his dad was never concerned with Augustine’s spiritual life, because he wasn’t a Christian, whereas his mother was deeply committed to the Catholic faith. As Augustine grew, his mother was very concerned with his sexual habits, and prayed for his conversion, while his father encouraged this immoral behavior.

Enrolling at Carthage when he came of age, Augustine’s sexual addiction became worse and worse. He also decided to join a cult called the Manchees, which had false beliefs about life. They told him that they had a great leader who would come and speak. Augustine waited a couple of years for the speaker to arrive, but when the speaker came, he didn’t know anything more than Augustine did and just used flowery language.
Wanting to turn from his sin Augustine wrestled with himself for a whole day. He knew that to serve God he would have to give up his sexual sins. Opening his Bible he opened it up to (Romans 13: 13-14) "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, in concupiscence.” After that he submitted himself to God completely.

The amazing thing about the story of Augustine is how a sinful person can turn totally to God. His mother also became a saint because of her diligent prayer for her son to come to God. Saint Augustine is a great example of a mess being transformed into something beautiful.