Lecture 6 Book IX

Ann T. Orlando

Book IX

• Historical context

• Reading the Text

• Influence

Historical Background

• Cassiciacum

• Ostia

• Family in antiquity

• Baptism

• Relics and Pilgrimages

• Spiritual progress

Confessions Structure

Augustine's Reflection on His PastBook I: From God; birth and relationship of infant with mother

– Book II: Bondage of Flesh• Book III: Slavery of eyes and mind; problem of evil

– Book IV Ambition of World» Book V Encounter with Faustus, Manichaeism, philosophy;

moving from Carthage to Rome– Book VI: Recognition of emptiness of world’s ambition

• Book VII: Freedom of mind; resolution of problem of evil– Book VIII: Liberation from bondage of flesh

Book IX: Relation to Monica, her death, return to God

Augustine’s PresentBook X: MemoryBook XI: TimeBook XII: Interpreting ScriptureBook XIII: Trinity and Church

Book IX Outline

• Moving beyond worldly ambition IX.1.1 – IX.2.4

• On retreat in Cassiciacum IX.3.5 – IX.4.12• Baptism IX.5.13 – IX.7.16• Monica’s Life IX.8.17 – IX.9.22• Experiencing God IX.10.21 – IX.10.26• Monica’s death IX.11.27 – IX.13.36• Prayer for Monica and Patrick IX.13.37

Influence

• Mystical ascent