Saint Augustine Confessions - Book 3
In Episode 34 of the Catholic Frequency Podcast, host Shannon welcomes back Sean Barabee for the third installment of their 13-week series exploring Saint Augustine’s Confessions. This episode dives into Book 3, covering Augustine’s tumultuous years from ages 16 to 18 as he moves to Carthage, wrestling with lust, vainglory, and a misguided pursuit of love. The discussion traces his initial enchantment with Cicero’s philosophy, his rejection of Scripture due to pride, and his entanglement with the Manichean heresy
Notes
- Sean introduces Book 3 of Confessions, detailing Augustine’s life from ages 16 to 18 as he arrives in Carthage, consumed by ambition, lust, and a love of sin for its own sake, setting the stage for a pivotal shift in his journey.
- Recap of Augustine’s wayward youth from Books 1 and 2, highlighting his lack of virtuous guidance, weak father figure, and poor education, which fueled his descent into sin by age 16.
- Sean reads a poignant passage from Book 3 where Augustine describes his obsession with “illicit loves” and being “in love with love,” revealing his disordered passions and spiritual hunger for God, misdirected toward carnal desires.
- Augustine’s discovery of Cicero’s Hortensius sparks a love for philosophy and wisdom, marking his first pivot away from pure hedonism toward a pursuit of truth, though still clouded by pride.
- Augustine grows skeptical of the superficiality of theatrical performances, critiquing the audience’s desire for fabricated pity over real compassion, priming him to seek authentic reality.
- Despite his search for truth, Augustine finds Scripture underwhelming compared to Cicero’s eloquence, a rejection rooted in pride and a lack of humility to grasp its deeper meaning.
- Augustine falls into Manicheanism, attracted by its dualistic explanation of evil as an external force, absolving him of personal responsibility and offering a simplistic answer to the problem of suffering.
- The unwavering prayers of Augustine’s mother, Monica, who, despite her heartbreak over his Manichean turn, trusts God’s providence, echoing the Virgin Mary’s sacrificial love.
- Drawing from Saint John Paul II’s Lenten message quoting Augustine, the hosts explore how charity (love) underpins all virtues, guiding Augustine—and listeners—toward true transformation.