Confessions

Character Guide

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Augustine (Augustine of Hippo)

The narrator, recounting his youth in Roman North Africa, his brilliant education, and his restless search for truth and pleasure.

Monica

Augustine's devout Christian mother, whose prayers and tears for her son's soul are described from his early boyhood.

Patricius

Augustine's father, a pagan (later catechumen) who is proud of his son's education and worldly promise.

Alypius

A close friend of Augustine's from Thagaste, who studies and travels alongside him and shares in his intellectual pursuits.

Faustus

A celebrated Manichaean bishop whom Augustine eagerly seeks out, hoping he can resolve his doubts about Manichaean teaching.

Ambrose (Bishop of Milan)

The renowned Christian bishop whose eloquent preaching in Milan begins to draw Augustine's attention and admiration.

Simplicianus

An elder Christian in Milan, spiritual father-figure to Ambrose, who shares stories of conversions with Augustine.

Nebridius

Another close friend from Augustine's student and teaching years, part of his circle of intellectual companions.

Glossary

Manichaeism

A dualistic religious sect (which Augustine followed for years) teaching that good and evil are two opposing eternal substances or forces in the universe.

Confession(s)

In the book's usage, not just admission of sin but also 'confession of praise' — the soul's truthful speech to God about itself and about God's greatness (Book 1:1, Book 10:1).

catechumen

A person receiving instruction in Christian doctrine before baptism, a status Augustine held for much of his life before his eventual baptism.

the Heaven of heavens

Augustine's term for a purely intellectual, created realm of spiritual beings closest to God, discussed in his meditation on Genesis (Book 12).

Continence

Personified in the text as a virtue (almost like an allegorical figure) who beckons Augustine away from his old habits at the moment of his conversion.

cogitation / cogitare

Augustine's etymological reflection deriving 'thought' (cogito) from 'gathering together' (cogo), used in his discussion of memory (Book 10).

the pear tree theft

The famous episode of Augustine and friends stealing pears in youth, not from hunger or want but seemingly for the thrill of the forbidden act itself (Book 2:4).

Elect (Manichaean 'Elect')

The highest rank of initiates within Manichaeism, believed by adherents to be capable of spiritually 'liberating' divine particles trapped in food through eating.

Beginning of our wisdom

Augustine's term (drawing on Scripture) for the Son/Word of God, through whom, in his theology, God created heaven and earth (Book 13).

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