God in St. Augustine's Confessions - Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.

[@adnannajeeb5619]

18:30 makes me want to learn Latin to read Augustine’s Confessions in the original language. That, and I am a Muslim.

[@HosannaInExcelsis]

this is such a wonderful presentation. I love Augustine but I have learned so much listening to it. The Thomistic Institute rocks!

[@kathiesalter8936]

Thank you again, that was wonderful! I appreciate Fr Hofer's bowing his head when saying Jesus, we do that in my rural Parish, but I don't often see it online. I have got out my dusty copy of the Confessions, and I will enjoy having a good look. I was raised Calvinist, so I am very grateful for Father's explaining the differences. Very enjoyable indeed.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thank you, Kathie.

[@louisaccardi6808]

I have read the Confessions in a number of translations into English and was extremely disappointed with them. Some of the new translations are not that literal and are more like paraphrases that water down the text and take away the beauty and power of this genre of literature. When I was 18 after going through some rather intense spiritual experiences I quickly came across the Confessions and purchased it in 1968. The translation was by Edward B. Pussey with an introduction by the Most Rev. Fulton J. Sheen D.D. The copyright is 1949. This book was such a deep and rewarding book and translation. Although, now that Fr. Hofer suggested this other translation I want to purchase it as well. I am 71 years old and The Confessions of St. Augustine has been with me on this journey through the years. I have noticed that during the different seasons of my life that great inspirational classic has refocused my attention more securely upon our Lord Jesus. Take the Confessions as a true companion with you throughout your life. Deeper and greater understandings will unfold as you read it over and over and even memorize various lines from it.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Wise advice. Thank you!

[@louisaccardi6808]

Fr. Hofer I thought it was interesting that this video teaching was loaded on June 25 , 2020, which was my 71st year in this mortal scene. What a great birthday gift. Excellent explanation of this sublime classic of Christian literature.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thank you! Happy (belated) Birthday!

[@henryberrylowry9512]

it's interesting how Augustine's Confessions are developed in inverse proportion to Hegel's Science of Logic. You say that the first ten books of the Confessions are about his inner, subjective, life and the latter books are about the tradition, the Objective realm. For Hegel, we necessarily start our progression toward Reason the opposite way: first through objective principles and then subsequently through subjectivity.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Indeed - Hegel stands on the shoulders of giants!

[@tonytks3737]

Wonderful presentation father.. 🙏💕

[@msfl54]

Thank you very much for this wonderful analysis of St. Augustine’s Confessions and his concept of God.

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

I was raised a Catholic, until…I actually seriously started to read the Bible. We can read in Scriptures that Lord Jesus commanded the Apostles to first preach the Gospel to the Jews, and after also to the Heathen or Gentiles (but never vise versa!). I found out in Scriptures who of the Apostles for the first time went to Rome .. and it wasn't Peter. In the Book of Acts it says in Chapter 28 the following: 16 "And when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the Prisoners to the Captain of the Guard: but Paul was allowed to live in a house, by himself, with a Roman Soldier that kept him. 17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the Chief of the there living Jews together: and when they came together, Paul said to them: "Men and Brethren, though I have committed nothing against our people, our customs, or against our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans 18 who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of guild in me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against that verdict, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had made any accusations against my Nation. 20 For this Hope (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) therefore I have called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because for the Hope of Israel I am bound with these chains. 21 The Chief of the Jews said to Paul: "We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you, neither any of the Brethren that came from there shewed or spoke any harm of you. 22 But we desire to hear of you what you think: for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere". The Roman Catholic Church claims that it was Peter who went to Rome first to preach the Gospel there first and that it was Peter who founded the Church there. Question: who lies? God,... or the Roman Catholic Church ? And what about the Letter in the Bible from Paul to the Congregation of Galatians where it says this in Chapter 2? From verse 7 we read the following: 7 "But on the contrary, when they saw that the Gospel of the Uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the Circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter; 8 for He that gave Peter power effectively to the Apostleship of the circumcision (again: the Jews), the Same was Mighty in me toward the Gentiles. 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we (that are Paul and Barnabas) should go unto the Heathen, and they unto the Circumcision. Again dear Catholics: who lies? Gods Word, or the Roman Catholic Church? Bible, the book of Acts, Chapter 5, verse 29 : Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey GOD - rather than man” !! Since the Roman Catholic 'church' claims to be well-read on scriptures, then please point me in the direction of where in the Bible it says to pray to a woman, or with a rosary (praying to May: "Hail Mary full of grace...), or to dead “saints.” Please show me where it says to call any mortal sinful man (the pope) your father. Please show me where the Bible says anything about purgatory, or paying indulgences (buying yourself into heaven - is God corrupt ?). Please show me where Mary was sinless. Why is it that Catholics worship Mary still as a virgin when Lord Jesus had half brothers and half sisters? Please show me where it says to confess your sins to a fellow sinful man so that he may forgive them? Show me the name pope in the Bible? Where does the Bible say the pope is the “vicar of Christ” on earth? Show me where it says that a preacher must be unmarried? It was the pagan ROMAN Emperor Constantine who was in fact the first “Pope” and he didn't allow for the common people to have Bible Scriptures...to keep believers ignorant, as the Catholic Church still does. Later pope’s started the ‘inquisition’ because the book printing machine was invented and people like William Tyndale could spread the Bible to the common people: he was burned to dead for that, and so were hundreds others who did the same and because they denounced the VALSE doctrines of Rome, and they were called heretics and witches by the Roman Catholic “church”- they were tortured, burned to dead - and murdered !!! GET OUT OF THIS FALSE CHURCH !!! The Roman Catholic “church” is a continuation of the old Roman PEAGAN Empire: it never went away as it disguised itself as a Christian Church. Read Revelation, Chapter 17: verse 7 and 8…please read, dear brothers and sisters.

[@maryjohnstone4777]

I am utterly overcome,with the beauty of this video,thanks!what deep faith of St Augustine what a journey he experienced .How too he sought out God n became so close in relation to Him.

[@louisaccardi6808]

"Our life is meant to enjoy God." Fr. Hofer sure gave us an insight into St. Augustine's concept of the spiritual life, and really if we adhere to it, what we can experience in this pilgrim journey of faith.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Indeed!

[@kaylap.1191]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

You're welcome.

[@Quoniambebe]

This presentation is excellent!

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thank you!

[@pamdivito-thomas4054]

Practically presented that most people can understand. And, the joy you brought myself going through the "Confessions." A closer walk with God our Father. Thank you!

[@bloodwrage]

Thank you for this video, Father Hofer

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Our pleasure! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. May the Lord bless you!

[@henryberrylowry9512]

"everyone has a notion of the soul"....You have answered the question. The Notion is the Soul of the development of Spirit toward its self actualization. The Soul is what we now call social relations.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

The ancient understanding of the soul as a principle of motion can take different directions. St. Thomas taught that it was a substance. The idea that the soul is relational is popular, but does not explain its ability to exist without a body after death, while remaining distinct from God and other separate spiritual substances.

[@eriksoley6774]

Augustine was just another step in completely removing Christianity from the Christian church.