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 Augustine's
life as a young man was characterized by loose living and a search for
answers to life's basic questions.
He would follow various philosophers, only to become disillusioned with
their teachings. For nine years he was associated with the Manichean sect.
But he gradually became aware that Manicheism was unable to provide
sastisfactory answers to his probing questions.
At this time, Augustine was teaching rhetoric in Milan. He went to hear the
preaching of Saint Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan. At first he went only to
hear Ambrose's eloquent style of speaking. But the Bishop's preaching led
Augustine to a new understanding of the Bible and the Christian Faith.
Some time in the year 386, Augustine, his mother Monica, his son Adeodatus,
and several friends, were spending time in Cassiciacum, a small village near
Milan. While outdoors, Augustine heard the voice of a child singing a song,
the words of which were, "Pick it up and read it. Pick it up and read it."
He thought at first that the song was related to some kind of children's
game, but could not remember ever having heard such a song before.
Then, realizing that this song might be a command from God to open and read
the Scriptures, he located a Bible, picked it up, opened it and read the
first passage he saw. It was from the Letter of Paul to the Romans.
Augustine read:
Not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in
quarreling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the desires of the flesh. --Romans 13: 13-14
Reading this scripture, Augustine felt as if his heart were flooded with
light. He turned totally from his life of sin. He was Baptized by Ambrose
during the Easter Vigil April 24, 387. His friend Alypius and his son
Adeodatus were Baptized at the same time.
Later, reflecting on this experience, Augustine wrote his famous prayer: You
have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest
in you. He went on to become a powerful influence on the spirituality and
theology of the Christian Church.
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