St Augustine Mini Icon

Born a Roman African. His mother was St. Monica, who prayed for her son to renounce hedonistic ways and follow the path of Jesus. He was well educated with a great intellect and a profound interest in philosophy and rhetoric. At 17, he began an affair with a woman who was beneath his station to marry. He lived with her for 15 years and had one son. He left her to marry a young girl of his station, but before she reached the marrying age of 12, he was spiritually led to the Christian faith and became a celibate priest. By the age of 30, he had attained the highest academic position in the Latin world and was well-versed in the philosophies of various faiths. Ordained a priest in 391. He was Bishop of Hippo.

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."