DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0049
st. Augustine’s theory.
33
Christian mother, whose passionate attachment to the
new faith sank deeply in his mind, he, after the first
ebullitions and irregularities of youth had given place
to a moral re-integration which changed the essence of
his being, set to work with the zeal of a convert to
elucidate the inner workings of the spirit in a state of
holiness, condensing his views of religion and philosophy
in his great work “ The City of God.”
The fundamental notion was the action of Rome on
the past as the nucleus of a “ political unity,” and its
action on the future through “ spiritual faith ” in Christ.
Preparatory to this, the “political unity” had, by fusing
nations together under the influence of one common
ruler, prepared the sentiment of mankind for the recep-
tion of the new and divine dispensation.
This dispensation, founded on the fraternity of all
mankind, irrespective of condition and creed, transcended
in spiritual beauty and in philosophical grandeur every
previously known fact.
He observed how the majesty and the strength of
Rome had overawed every other feeling, and thrown into
the shade every other consideration, filling the minds of
conquered nations with wonder and with reverence.
Jews and Gentiles under the Roman Empire gloried in
the title of “ Roman citizen,” and felt an equal pride in
the glory of Rome. Even Christian martyrs, chastised
and persecuted by the Csesars, had prayed for the preser-
vation of Rome and for the health of the Emperor.
Rome, as the “ representative city,” was endeared to
the world at large. In Rome the “religious unity”
would follow the steps of the “ imperial unity ” of the
past. The temporal greatness and peace foreshadowed
in older Rome would be followed by the loftier greatness
and the deeper peace of the “ eternity of holiness ” pro-
mised by the Messiah to his kingdom in his Church.
The guides and pastors, rulers of this fraternity, were
held by St. Augustine to be entrusted with the task of
regenerating their flocks. They held on to the traditions
of the past, and were penetrated with its knowledge and
D
33
Christian mother, whose passionate attachment to the
new faith sank deeply in his mind, he, after the first
ebullitions and irregularities of youth had given place
to a moral re-integration which changed the essence of
his being, set to work with the zeal of a convert to
elucidate the inner workings of the spirit in a state of
holiness, condensing his views of religion and philosophy
in his great work “ The City of God.”
The fundamental notion was the action of Rome on
the past as the nucleus of a “ political unity,” and its
action on the future through “ spiritual faith ” in Christ.
Preparatory to this, the “political unity” had, by fusing
nations together under the influence of one common
ruler, prepared the sentiment of mankind for the recep-
tion of the new and divine dispensation.
This dispensation, founded on the fraternity of all
mankind, irrespective of condition and creed, transcended
in spiritual beauty and in philosophical grandeur every
previously known fact.
He observed how the majesty and the strength of
Rome had overawed every other feeling, and thrown into
the shade every other consideration, filling the minds of
conquered nations with wonder and with reverence.
Jews and Gentiles under the Roman Empire gloried in
the title of “ Roman citizen,” and felt an equal pride in
the glory of Rome. Even Christian martyrs, chastised
and persecuted by the Csesars, had prayed for the preser-
vation of Rome and for the health of the Emperor.
Rome, as the “ representative city,” was endeared to
the world at large. In Rome the “religious unity”
would follow the steps of the “ imperial unity ” of the
past. The temporal greatness and peace foreshadowed
in older Rome would be followed by the loftier greatness
and the deeper peace of the “ eternity of holiness ” pro-
mised by the Messiah to his kingdom in his Church.
The guides and pastors, rulers of this fraternity, were
held by St. Augustine to be entrusted with the task of
regenerating their flocks. They held on to the traditions
of the past, and were penetrated with its knowledge and
D