Who Was Saint Augustine Of Hippo?

Saint Augustine is one of the greatest doctors of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Tagaste, Africa, in the year 354 AD. At first, he followed his mother's good, Christian, example, but later on in his youth, fell into a sinful way of life. "My sins increase like a rolling snowball," he wrote in his famous "Confessions". He had a mistress for fifteen years with whom he had a son, Adeodatus. He studied both law and philosophy. His mother, St. Monica constantly prayed for his conversion. In 387, her prayers were answered and he was baptised in Milan by Saint Ambrose, a bishop.

Augustine then went to Africa and was elected Bishop of Hippo. His intellectual brilliance allowed him to become an "exemplary" preacher, writing and giving sermon sin defence of the Catholic faith. He died in the year 430. Catholics celebrate the Saint's feast day on August 28.