Vigils Reading

A reading from

ST AUGUSTINE

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Your Graces will have noticed when the book of the Acts of the Apostles

was being read that Paul was talking at Athens. The Athenians enjoyed a great

reputation among other peoples for every kind of learning. The city was the

native home of great philosophers. From it had spread through the rest of

Greece and other countries of the world a complex variety of philosophies.

That’s where the Apostle was talking, that’s where he was proclaiming Christ

crucified, to the Jews indeed a stumbling block, to the nations folly; but to

those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the

wisdom of God.

When he finished his address and they heard mention of the resurrection

of the dead, which is the most distinctive point of the faith of Christians, some of

them scoffed, while others said, We will hear you again on this matter.

Now, there is one overriding concern common to all philosophers within

which they divide up into five different sets of special opinions. In common, all

philosophers strive by dedication, investigation, discussion, by their way of life,

to lay hold of the blessed life. This is their one reason for philosophizing; but I

rather think the philosophers also have this in common with us. I mean, if I were

to ask you why you became Christians, every single one of you would answer me

truthfully: ‘For the sake of the blessed life.’

Therefore the urge for the blessed life is common to philosophers and

Christians, and I would even say common to the whole human race. People who

are good, after all, are good in order to be happy, and those who are bad would

not be bad unless they hoped they would thereby be made happy.

Now set before your eyes Epicureans, Stoics, and the Apostle; that is:

Epicureans, Stoics, and Christians. Let’s first question the Epicureans on what

thing it is that makes life happy. They answer, ‘Bodily pleasure.’ The Stoic

answers: ‘A virtuous mind.’ The Christian: ‘The gift of God.’ And so brethren, in

front of our very eyes Epicureans and Stoics are debating with the Apostle, and

teaching us by their debate what we should reject and what we ought to choose.

A virtuous mind is something very praiseworthy; but tell me, Stoic, where

do you get it from? It is not really your virtuous mind that makes you happy, but

the one who has given you virtue, who has inspired you to desire it, and granted

you the capacity for it. There is no life that deserves the name, to be called life,

but a blessed life; and there can be no blessed life that is not eternal. This is what

everybody wants: truth and life.

But how is one to get to such a great possession, such a grand fortune? The

philosophers have worked out for themselves ways that go wrong. They have

missed the true way, because God opposes the proud. We would also miss it,

unless it had come to us. That’s why the Lord says, I am the way…

This is the doctrine of Christians; certainly not something to be set beside

the doctrines of the philosophers, but to be set incomparably above them,

whether the sordid one of the Epicureans, or the arrogant one of the Stoics.