Confessions - Augustine - VII - Book 9

Required reading
Confessions by Augustine (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Book IX.

My summary
Now that Augustine has become a Christian he begins to consider entering the ministry.

Augustine's friend, Verecundus, lets him stay at his country-house (and, happily, Verecundus becomes a Christian just before he dies).  Augustine continues to grow in his knowledge of God, particularly through reading the Psalms.

The vintage vacation ends and Augustine gives notice to the Milanese to provide their scholars with another master to sell words to them, for he had made the choice to serve God - the difficulty of breathing and pain in his chest was not equal to professorship.  He writes to Ambrose who recommends he read Isaiah.  He then returns to Milan and is baptised.

The section then closes with the death of his mother and what amounts to a eulogy about her life.

What grabbed me
Interesting to see the advice of Ambrose: 'And by letters I signified to Thy Prelate, the holy man Ambrose, my former errors and present desires, begging his advice what of Thy Scriptures I had best read, to become readier and fitter for receiving so great grace. He recommended Isaiah the Prophet: I believe, because he above the rest is a more clear foreshower of the Gospel and of the calling of the Gentiles. But I, not understanding the first lesson in him, and imagining the whole to be like it, laid it by, to be resumed when better practised in our Lord's own words.'

I'm not sure Isaiah is what I'd recommend to a new convert but Augustine was a most unusual individual and had already read a lot of the Scriptures.  And Isaiah is indeed excellent value!

Next week's reading
Read Book X.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.