Confessions - Book VI - Chapter Xvi
St. Augustine reflects on his spiritual journey from the blindness of carnal pleasure to the recognition of divine mercy and the true source of rest in God.
In this profound reflection, St. Augustine recounts his inner turmoil and spiritual blindness before embracing the mercy of God. He explores the futility of seeking happiness in worldly pleasures and the essential role of divine grace in leading the soul to true rest. This sermon offers a deeply personal and theological insight into the journey from sin to salvation.
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26. Thine be the praise; unto thee be the glory, O Fountain of mercies. I became more wretched and thou didst come nearer. Thy right hand was ever ready to pluck me out of the mire and to cleanse me, but I did not know it. Nor did anything call me back from a still deeper plunge into carnal pleasure except the fear of death and of thy future judgment, which, amid all the waverings of my opinions, never faded from my breast. And I discussed with my friends, Alypius and Nebridius, the nature of good and evil, maintaining that, in my judgment, Epicurus would have carried off the palm if I had not believed what Epicurus would not believe: that after death there remains a life for the soul, and places of recompense. And I demanded of them: \"Suppose we are immortal and live in the enjoyment of perpetual bodily pleasure, and that without any fear of losing it--why, then, should we not be happy, or why should we search for anything else?\" I did not know that this was in fact the root of my misery: that I was so fallen and blinded that I could not discern the light of virtue and of beauty which must be embraced for its own sake, which the eye of flesh cannot see, and only the inner vision can see. Nor did I, alas, consider the reason why I found delight in discussing these very perplexities, shameful as they were, with my friends. For I could not be happy without friends, even according to the notions of happiness I had then, and no matter how rich the store of my carnal pleasures might be. Yet of a truth I loved my friends for their own sakes, and felt that they in turn loved me for my own sake.
O crooked ways! Woe to the audacious soul which hoped that by forsaking thee it would find some better thing! It tossed and turned, upon back and side and belly--but the bed is hard, and thou alone givest it rest.[174] And lo, thou art near, and thou deliverest us from our wretched wanderings and establishest us in thy way, and thou comfortest us and sayest, \"Run, I will carry you; yea, I will lead you home and then I will set you free.\"[175]
Sermon Outline
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I. Recognition of Wretchedness
- Acknowledging personal misery and blindness
- The lure and emptiness of carnal pleasures
- Fear of death and judgment as a restraining force
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II. The Search for True Happiness
- Philosophical discussions on good and evil
- Misguided hopes in bodily pleasures
- The inner vision needed to perceive virtue and beauty
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III. The Role of Friendship
- Love for friends as a genuine bond
- Friends as companions in spiritual perplexity
- The insufficiency of friendship alone for true rest
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IV. Divine Mercy and Rest
- God’s readiness to rescue and cleanse
- The soul’s rest found only in God
- God’s promise to lead and set free
Key Quotes
“Thine be the praise; unto thee be the glory, O Fountain of mercies.” — St. Augustine
“O crooked ways! Woe to the audacious soul which hoped that by forsaking thee it would find some better thing!” — St. Augustine
“Run, I will carry you; yea, I will lead you home and then I will set you free.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize the limitations of worldly pleasures and seek true happiness in God.
- Trust in God's mercy to rescue and guide you through spiritual struggles.
- Value genuine friendships but understand that ultimate rest is found only in God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Augustine mean by 'spiritual blindness'?
He refers to the inability to perceive the true light of virtue and beauty beyond physical pleasures.
Why did Augustine fear death and judgment?
Because he believed in the soul's immortality and the existence of recompense after death.
How does friendship factor into Augustine’s spiritual journey?
Friendship provided companionship and love but was ultimately insufficient for true happiness.
What is the 'crooked way' Augustine mentions?
It symbolizes the misguided paths of sin and carnal pleasure that lead away from God.
What is the ultimate source of rest according to Augustine?
Only God can provide true rest and freedom to the soul.