Confessions - Book I - Chapter Viii
St. Augustine reflects on the natural progression of human development and the divine gift of language as a means to communicate and connect with others.
In this devotional reflection, St. Augustine explores the early stages of human growth, focusing on the gift of language as a divine endowment that enables communication and social connection. He meditates on how natural gestures and parental guidance facilitate the transition from infancy to boyhood. Augustine's insights reveal the profound interplay between human development and God's providence in everyday life.
Text
13. Did I not, then, as I grew out of infancy, come next to boyhood, or rather did it not come to me and succeed my infancy? My infancy did not go away (for where would it go?). It was simply no longer present; and I was no longer an infant who could not speak, but now a chattering boy. I remember this, and I have since observed how I learned to speak. My elders did not teach me words by rote, as they taught me my letters afterward. But I myself, when I was unable to communicate all I wished to say to whomever I wished by means of whimperings and grunts and various gestures of my limbs (which I used to reinforce my demands), I myself repeated the sounds already stored in my memory by the mind which thou, O my God, hadst given me. When they called some thing by name and pointed it out while they spoke, I saw it and realized that the thing they wished to indicate was called by the name they then uttered. And what they meant was made plain by the gestures of their bodies, by a kind of natural language, common to all nations, which expresses itself through changes of countenance, glances of the eye, gestures and intonations which indicate a disposition and attitude--either to seek or to possess, to reject or to avoid. So it was that by frequently hearing words, in different phrases, I gradually identified the objects which the words stood for and, having formed my mouth to repeat these signs, I was thereby able to express my will. Thus I exchanged with those about me the verbal signs by which we express our wishes and advanced deeper into the stormy fellowship of human life, depending all the while upon the authority of my parents and the behest of my elders.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Transition from infancy to boyhood
- Retention of infancy within growth
- Emergence of speech and communication
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II
- Learning language through observation
- Role of elders in naming objects
- Use of natural gestures and expressions
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III
- Development of verbal signs
- Expression of will through speech
- Dependence on parental authority
Key Quotes
“My infancy did not go away (for where would it go?). It was simply no longer present.” — St. Augustine
“I myself repeated the sounds already stored in my memory by the mind which thou, O my God, hadst given me.” — St. Augustine
“A kind of natural language, common to all nations, which expresses itself through changes of countenance, glances of the eye, gestures and intonations.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize and appreciate the divine gift of language in everyday communication.
- Observe how natural gestures and expressions can enhance understanding in relationships.
- Value the role of parental and communal guidance in personal growth and learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Augustine say about infancy?
He explains that infancy does not disappear but is simply no longer present as one grows into boyhood.
How did Augustine learn to speak?
He learned to speak by repeating sounds he heard and associating them with objects through observation and natural gestures.
What role do gestures play in communication?
Gestures and facial expressions form a natural language that helps convey intentions and emotions before verbal speech develops.
Why is parental authority important in Augustine's reflection?
Parental authority and elders guide the child's learning and integration into human society through language and social interaction.