Hi, this is Kylie. I hope you're loving Lent with the Saints. Do you have any questions about anything you've heard so far? Well, we'd love to hear your questions and answer them in a special episode of Lent with the Saints. To tell us your question, ask your mom or dad to help you record it on lentwiththesaints.com slash questions. It's easy and a lot of fun. We'll choose a few of your questions and answer them in a special Sunday episode of Lent with the Saints. I can't wait to hear from you. Send us your questions now at lentwiththesaints.com slash questions. Roman Tagaste, 374 AD. Augustine excuses his sinful and indulgent life, thanks to the vile heresy of Manichaeism. Bored of city life and its pleasures, he moves his young family back to Tagaste to find peace and stability. But a reunion with a childhood friend may upset that plan and launch Augustine into new adventures. I had let myself be taken in by fools, Lord. One part of me was pursuing the emptiness of pleasure and glory. The other, striving to be made clean of such ailments. I was a man, tauren, a wretched soul, bound in affection to mortal things. But you are ever close upon the heels of those who wander from you, my God. And you turn us to yourself by ways most wonderful. Jesus, look upon my wandering son. Set him straight. Your gaze is all it'll take. Augustine? Oh, whoa! Augustine! Hello there, Mother! What are you doing here? Three years of city life has grown tiring. We felt a change was needed. Oh, thank you, Lord. Come here, give your mother a hug. I'm glad to see you, Mother. Is that... Would you like to meet them? Oh, I... Aurora! Mother, this chatty little fellow is your grandson. Adiodatus. Come here, precious boy. Let me see you. And this is Aurora. I've been so eager to meet you, ma'am. I'm glad to finally put a face to the name, dear. We haven't much money at present. That'll change once I start giving lessons. We're hoping we can stay with you in the meantime. I'll be very happy to take care of all the work around the house. We can even discuss spiritual matters now, you and I. Augustine! Have you come to Christ? The Manichees got to me before you did. The Manichees? Yes. What's wrong? Can we speak privately? It Aurora isn it Excuse me You won allow us to stay here because you won have your son concubine in the house Shame on you. I may not like the nature of your relationship, but I wouldn't punish her or my grandson for it. And what makes Manichaeism worthy of punishment? They're absurd teachings. The God of good, the God of evil. it paints God falsely. It completely disregards Christ himself. I can't stomach it. I won't have heresy in this house. I adopted this heresy, Mother, because it's the closest I've gotten to calming the whirlwind within me. The church has... Your church ignores human longing and holds impossible stories as irrefutably true. I can't ignore the longing, and I can't abandon logic. Manichaeism is the only thing that has room for both. I'm so happy you're home, sweetheart. But until you abandon these false doctrines, you may not stay in this house. Quite a welcome home. Heresy. This heresy is the only logical option, Mother. It offers justification, not accusation. It allows me passions and intellect. Both of them as real as these bricks. So why do I feel so hollow? Still taking what isn't ours, are we? Do I know you? You always did have sticky fingers. Wait, Servius? But the pear tree, now that was taking it too far. Servius, you little snitch. Augustine, you scoundrel. Guilty as charged. I saw your mother in town. She said you'd come home. Not five days ago. I have to say, I'm surprised you would ever return to Degaste. Carthage is magnificent, but draining. Especially with a young family. So, you've come back to work as a brick mason? Oh, these! No, no, no. I'm just gathering unwanted materials. I plan to repair my father's old barn and use it as a classroom. Oh, a teacher. Rhetoric. Assuming anyone here is interested in such things. As a matter of fact, I am. Really? Whoops, I have to run, but I'd like to continue this later. Absolutely. Servius, come to my mother's for supper this evening. You can meet Aurora and our son. I'll be there. I think you're oversimplifying the whole matter. So you've been telling me for two years now, Servius. Pass the figs, would you please, Monica? Certainly. When it comes to friendship, Cicero said that friendship is having someone to whom you can say everything with the same absolute confidence as to yourself. What could be simpler than that? Ah but he also said that true friendship can only exist between good men Now I no Christian but are we not good men That my question Augustine Are we I think that a question for his mother Servius I want no part of their yammering. My point is this. Friendship improves happiness, abates misery, and life is nothing without it. Cheers! And on that note, I think my little friend Adiodatus has been very patiently waiting for a game. Hey, come back here, you. Wait for me. Oh, it warms my heart to see my son laugh. Servius does much for his spirit. So do you, Aurora. I hope I do. Monica? Yes, dear? I know you don't like the nature of my relationship with your son. And I want you to know that if marriage were ever possible, I would make sure... Laura! Mother! Augustine? What's wrong? Servius, he just collapsed. Run and get help, quickly. Servius? Uh, Augustine? Servius, you're awake. What are you doing here? You collapsed in the field during our picnic. Some kind of quick, vicious fever. When was that? Seven days ago. You've given us a real scare, my friend. Mother even called for a priest. Did she? He baptized you almost at once, despite my best efforts. Such a laughable sight. There you lay unconscious, and this pious fool raises... Don't do that. What? The priest, the baptism. Don't joke about that. Oh, come on, Servius. We joke about that nonsense all the... If you wish for us to remain true friends, Augustine, you'll stop this mockery. Now. Where is this coming from? I wish to be a good man. Your mother sought to help me in that when I couldn't do so myself. And if I'm here after so close a brush with death, I have no right to be flippant. All right. If you say so. Whoa, whoa! There's my Lady Venus. Hello, love. Hey, what's this? No welcome home kiss? No, how was your business in the city? Augustine. How does Servius fare? I was glad to see him on the men before. Augustine. What? Servius took a turn for the worse the day after you left. Oh dear. How is he? He's gone. Gone? I'm so sorry. I see. Leave, but... Tagaste is ill-suited for a school of rhetoric, Mother. That's not the truth, and you know it. I need a change. You have more than yourself to think about, Augustine. Aurora is well settled here, and your son... I can't bear to remain here. Why? My heart is black with grief, Mother. Servius is dead. Oh, son. And yet I can't stop looking for him everywhere. He'd become a second self to me. Now that he gone it feels as though I been lost along with him Augustine And do you know the funniest part I truly believe that such agony would be beautiful Just as it is in the words of Virgil But it isn't beautiful. This agony is... oppressive. Terrifying. Stay, son. Let me help you through it. I'm truly sorry, Mother. Augustine, please! I have to leave. Merciful God, how many years now since Augustine took his family and left for Milan? How many years of endless prayer? Yet every letter from Aurora tells of a man who's falling deeper and deeper into confusion and hopelessness. And that's why I wanted to speak with you, Bishop Faustus. Your preaching in the streets all those years ago is what turned me on to Manichaeism in the first place. You flatter me, young man, but I'm afraid I... I'm in great need of some clarity. What about? The human person is a battleground. Our very nature as body and spirit is a result of the war between the God of Light and the God of Darkness. You are correct. What happens to us when the war is over? Pardon? When the battle is finally won, one way or another, what will become of our nature? Well, you see, I... Must it come to an end? I'd like for it, too. Wouldn't you? Oh, but heavens, why? Such glorious conflict is what makes us who we are, as you said. Yes, but... Why not accept its permanence and learn to savor it? I see. Is there anything else? No. I think there's nothing else. Jesus! You who must have such love for your own mother! Look on the heartsick mother of an afflicted son and answer her prayers. Please, Lord, when will you deliver Augustine? Magister Augustine? Sir? Hmm? What is it, Felix? Are you alright? You seem... well... Truthfully, your lecture today was alarmingly cynical. I'll gladly accept any reason you can give me that it shouldn't be. May I direct you somewhere that might give you a reason? Where might that be? Basilica Marti Room. A Christian church? And the home of one Bishop Aurelius Ambrose. Possibly the finest rhetorician in Milan Is that what you've heard? With my own ears, yes I've no interest in priestly sermons Trust me, sir You'll be very interested in Ambrose Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Merry Baggers Tune in to episode 4, The Cost of Sight to hear the next installment of St. Augustine. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.
