Confessions

Augustine had a very close relationship with his mother. She impacted his life by teaching his important virtues. For example, she taught him to be a peacemaker between people who are fighting. She also impacted his life by teaching him about Christianity. They were able to discuss religion together, and even shared a very significant and supernatural vision. He is very heartbroken when she dies. However, he chooses not to mourn and grieve over her death. I think this is because he is certain she would be in heaven with God. He felt great pain because of her death because his time with her had been cut short. He felt as if his life had been torn apart because together they were one life. He also writes a prayer for his mother at the end of the selection.

Augustine had a very close relationship with God as well. He was fully devoted to following God and He was able to trust God completely. I think this is most clear when his mother dies. Augustine is not angry with God for taking his mother, instead he accepts it and prays for her sins. Also, Augustine seemed to be very good at worshipping and praises God no matter what. Again, this is seen when his mother dies. He is able to praise God through this extremely difficult time. His affectionate and close relationship was unique for his time period. Mainly because many people did not believe in only one God, most at the time were polytheistic. Most of those who were Christians were not as fully devoted to God as Augustine. I believe his extreme devotion and trust is unique for our time period as well. It is rare, but not impossible here at Liberty, to find someone who is so focused to trusting and worshipping God.