The Confessions [Hardcover]

I have several versions of this classic work, and was very refreshed by this excellent translation (you almost forget the number of centuries between the author and now as you read). Augustine's love for the psalms shines through very nicely here. If you do not know the work, do not dismiss it as "confessions of sins" -- it is the emotive chronicle of a cultured man finding God through Christ and His Word. A stunning story, with so much food for thought -- and answers to some of life's most common questions. This volume is worth a dumpster of modern best-selling tomes.

This translation of The Confessions by Philip Burton is quite wonderful. It's different in style than Albert Outler's or Philip Schaff's - whose works I'd characterize as more 'muscular', with a sort of classical quality about them. Burton opts for a more flowing, modern style, but surrenders nothing in clarity or beauty. I think if I had to choose among them, I'd go with this translation by Burton - it's that good. I plan on buying F.J. Sheed's classic translation and doing a comparison, as I hear that is the best of all.

One of the things I really like is that nearly all of the biblical references are kept in-line with the text (in both KJV and Douay citations for the Psalms, which differ by chapter and verse), resorting only to footnotes for citing other works or for background explanation. I also like that the particular lines and phrases used from other sources (most are from the bible, especially the Psalter) are italicized, helping you to appreciate just how wonderfully St. Augustine weaved his meditations in with pieces of related verses - really an outstanding literary and Spiritual achievement. The entire work reads like one long, beautiful prayer. Sublime.

This edition has a very helpful chronology of St. Augustine's life at the beginning of the book, with his milestones juxtaposed to that of his contemporaries, and of landmarks in the history of the Empire. This volume is attractive and well-constructed, and comes with a ribbon marker.

However...

I do have one major gripe with this edition. The introduction by Robin Lane Fox is absolutely appalling. I lost count of the asinine statements after the first 3 pages.

Some examples:

"Why did they ever think so [about becoming celibate]? They fastened on bits of the Gospels... and on a misunderstanding of Paul's cautious advice in 1 Corinthians 7."

'Fasten on bits of the Gospels' sounds an awful lot like 'cling to their guns and their religion.' Why is this opinion, packaged as agreed-on historical fact, in an introduction to a Catholic work? Jesus and many of his disciples were celibate - what's the problem? As for misunderstanding Paul, here's what he actually said:

"But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I." (1 Corinthians 7:8)

"Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful. I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity: that it is good for a man so to be." (1 Corinthians 7:25-26)

Of St. Augustine's decision to become celibate, Fox writes: "We might wonder more simply whether [he made his vow of chastity based on] the second concubina... [being] drearier in bed." How anyone can read Augustine's account of his conversion in Book 8 and wonder as Fox does, is befuddling, especially coming from an Oxford historian. Fox should have some evidence for suggesting that St. Augustine's Confession is less than sincere. Whatever this is, it is not scholarship; or, more rightly, it is too much like modern scholarship.

Lastly, Fox writes, "The important facts are that he [Augustine] was not alone in making this leap [to celibacy] and that it was completely unnecessary selfishness." Again, Fox is able to read beyond what St. Augustine writes, and gaze 1600 years back into the soul of the great saint and ascertain his *true* motives. What a joke. This is what passes for scholarship these days. The assault on all things Catholic and all things virtuous continues in the ivory towers.

St. Augustine was the first, and is arguably the most influential, of the major Christian apologists. In a time when Christianity was gaining momentum in the Roman Empire but was still mostly confined to the poor and uneducated, Augustine's theological treatises and apology made Christianity more valid, and in many cases more acceptable, to the learned in Rome. This autobiography, detailing Augustine's early life with a special emphasis on what made him convert to Christianity, made a tremendous contribution to the work of the sect.

Augustine deals with several topics in this book. He explores why we sin, how it affects God, and how He tries to win us back. He discusses learning and the effect of worldly wisdom and human interpretation of divine will, and attempts to reconcile earthly learning to spiritual growth. In the last three books he discusses time and creation with God. This is definitely heavy reading, but while Augustine's argument is very detailed and is sometimes difficult to comprehend, it is not poorly organized. For the most part the narrative is smooth, though the last three books do lag a little bit compared with the rest of the work.

Augustine's work has endured for more than a millennium and a half. Christianity has evolved, and has branched into many different and often opposing factions, but Augustine's work and his message still carry the great weight that they did over 1500 years ago.

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