Throughout the course of human history, we have seen the emergence of great philosophers who shared wisdom that would influence the world for years to come. From Plato and Aristotle to Voltaire and Descartes, we have been informed and guided by seers whose knowledge and truth guided us across the centuries.
One of the greatest philosophers of all times was St. Augustine of Hippo. Born in North Africa in 354 AD, St. Augustine was originally part of the Pagan religion but later converted to Christianity. He dedicated himself to the pursuit of wisdom after reading an essay about “truth” written by Cicero. Over the years he became the Bishop of Hippo and delved deeply into ethics, rhetoric, and metaphysics.
St. Augustine was a prolific writer who created 132 works over his lifetime. The Works of Saint Augustine have been translated into English and thus far 43 books have been published containing 93 of his monumental writings. His wisdom holds true even in our modern times.
The Road to Greatness
When you look for wisdom that spans generations, you often find that it spans cultures too. There is a beautiful quote from Chinese writing that says “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. St. Augustine offered a parallel maxim when he wrote “You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.” Every major creation or great offering of humanity begins with the first concrete steps.
What Love Looks Like
Over the centuries much has been written about love. There is romantic love and there is a universal love that is based on compassion, caring and truly desiring to help others. In his writing, St. Augustine spoke eloquently about the expression of love. “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” There is no greater gift than to offer love and heartfelt caring and help to one in need.
The Magic of Miracles
Many times we find ourselves witnessing magical and amazing moments in life. Miracles are part of the mystery and beauty woven into our human existence. St. Augustine said “Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature”.
The Nature of Love
When we see love expressed in beautiful ways, we feel it deep in our being. Love is truly the animating force of consciousness. St. Augustine wrote that “Love is the beauty of the soul”. Our souls come into this world full of love and when we leave this earth we leave behind our material possessions, the echoes of our achievements and all worldly things. We only take one thing with us… Love.
Timeless truths are part of the very heart of humanity’s journey and soul. Great philosophers such as St. Augustine help us illuminate our path by sharing their wisdom about life, love and the deeper nature of our existence. Their words are our guide.
