Confessions of St Augustine

[Margaret33]

My 16 year old daughter works in a book store and came home with this book the other day because an adult customer recommended it. I was so proud of her for having picked out Catholic reading without being persuaded to by me! Having not read it myself yet, I am hoping those here who have can tell me a few things…

1. Does it have any content that I should be concerned about her reading at her age? or because she is female and still innocent? (forgive the way I’ve asked this - I know Augustine struggled with lust and sexuality and don’t know how much of that or in what context it comes forth in the book)
2. She is in an advanced school and takes many AP classes, but I am wondering if the content will be hard for her to understand / if you’d consider it to be intellectually above the average 16 year old’s understanding.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut appreciated…

Thank you and Bless you,
M

 

[LilyM]

There’s nothing to worry about except that your daughter’s life will be transformed by the book A fantastic read.

No, Augustine doesn’t go into any content that would be worrisome for a sixteen-year-old. He is relatively frank about having taken a mistress or two and had a child in his wayward youth, but never goes into any inappropriate detail and acknowledges the harm that resulted from this.

She may find some of the more lofty philosophical sections at the end a bit of a puzzle, as I did. But it’s good to exercise the old brain muscles!

I love that in spite of Augustine’s renunciation of his sins he still took loving care of his son, who was in fact baptised the same day as himself :getholy:

 

[Margaret33]

There’s nothing to worry about except that your daughter’s life will be transformed by the book A fantastic read.

No, Augustine doesn’t go into any content that would be worrisome for a sixteen-year-old. He is relatively frank about having taken a mistress or two and had a child in his wayward youth, but never goes into any inappropriate detail and acknowledges the harm that resulted from this.

She may find some of the more lofty philosophical sections at the end a bit of a puzzle, as I did. But it’s good to exercise the old brain muscles!

I love that in spite of Augustine’s renunciation of his sins he still took loving care of his son, who was in fact baptised the same day as himself :getholy:

So good to hear Lily, thank you!!

M

 

[blessedtoo]

I second Lily’s review of Confessions.

It does have some difficult and profound philosohical concepts but even when befuddled, I was able to comprehend the greater meaning.

You should read it with your daughter!

 

[Margaret33]

I second Lily’s review of Confessions.

It does have some difficult and profound philosohical concepts but even when befuddled, I was able to comprehend the greater meaning.

You should read it with your daughter!

Thank you too blessedtoo -

I want to - she said I could read it after her! lol…

 

[TOP]

My 16 year old daughter works in a book store and came home with this book the other day because an adult customer recommended it. I was so proud of her for having picked out Catholic reading without being persuaded to by me! Having not read it myself yet, I am hoping those here who have can tell me a few things…

1. Does it have any content that I should be concerned about her reading at her age? or because she is female and still innocent? (forgive the way I’ve asked this - I know Augustine struggled with lust and sexuality and don’t know how much of that or in what context it comes forth in the book)
2. She is in an advanced school and takes many AP classes, but I am wondering if the content will be hard for her to understand / if you’d consider it to be intellectually above the average 16 year old’s understanding.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut appreciated…

Thank you and Bless you,
M

I’m reading it now and will have my 16 y.o. son read it when I’m done. The book progresses in theology as he grows up. He writes about himself when he was 16 as a 16 y.o. would write and understand it. It is genius in that sense. The content is acceptable. The average 10th grader is exposed to alot worse just going to school or watching TV. She may get to a point in the book that she just doesn’t get. The thought can be abstract with the assumption that we all are studied to some extent in ancient literature and the sect’s of his time in which he practiced “rhetoric” for. So far, I love the book and it is recollective for me spiritually. As is written in the book, we read autobiographies to learn about ourselves. Tim

 

[St_Gabriel]

There’s nothing sexually explicit in the book. He just mentions that he had a mistress (living with a women) and a child out of wedlock.

 

[mercygate]

I read it at 16 in high school. When I re-read it in college, it had become another book. If I read it again (as I am thinking of doing) it will probably be another book again!

This is one of the great classics of western literature in addition to being a key work of Catholic Christianity.

 

[schatzi]

Our family will be attending a Eucharistic Marian conference next month at Jackson Hole, WY, where Leonardo deFillipis will give a dramatic presentation from the Confessions of St. Augustine.
My 15 year old daughter is very excited about this. Thank God for the opportunities young people have today to be exposed to Catholic classics in such a setting.

 

[Genesis315]

I am reading this book right now. One thing that has come to mind while reading it is that every student should read it before going to college. Augustine deals with the same problems modern students will encounter–temptation to sins of the flesh and worldy gain over spiritual pursuits, and bad philosophy.

 

[LilyM]

Our family will be attending a Eucharistic Marian conference next month at Jackson Hole, WY, where Leonardo deFillipis will give a dramatic presentation from the Confessions of St. Augustine.
My 15 year old daughter is very excited about this. Thank God for the opportunities young people have today to be exposed to Catholic classics in such a setting.

There is an audio recording on EWTN’s website of that presentation (I’m assuming it’s the same one). They also recorded his presentations on St Francis (which I just love) and St John of the Cross, also beautiful.

 

[Melo]

I love to read and I’m always looking for new books. This one sounds great and I’m going to try and read it as soon as I’m done with my Bible Study of John.