Confessions – Aurelius Augustine

26 November 2007 The Measure of a Woman In one of his close famous works, Confessions, Aurelius Augustine maps out important expound and happenings throughout his keep in address to his loved ones and his immortal. An undeniable aspect of his sustenance is the influence of his get down, Monica, and her seting on life, love, and death. If compared to early(a) famous female figure in the Christian life, such as Rebekah, the gravel of Jacob, Monicas virtues of industry and eternal perspective shine through, revealing her Biblical cod of marriage and her hubby.Augustine commends his drives virtues and lifestyle, providing an congresswoman for women everywhere to carefully consider. Monica shows one of the to the highest degree difficult qualities in life to possess- enterprise. She demonstrates sedulousness toward her male child, Augustine, in her continual prayer and interference for his salvation. In his Confessions, Augustine describes his mothers prayers flu x with tears as he sets swing for Rome (5. 1232). Despite his departure, she continues to seek immortal for His role in the life of her son. Her application is rewarded years later when Augustine fin every last(predicate)y comes to do it the Lord.When Augustine brings her the good news, she is filled with triumphant jubilance (8. 1238). Ultimately Monica realizes that paragon has done to a greater extent than she could ever imagine. In Carl G. Vaughts The voyage Toward immortal in Augustines Confessions take for I-VI, he presents the sizeableness of Augustines consanguinity with his mother concerning his conversion. He proposes that because of his relationship with his mother Augustine begins to move beyond Skellenger 2 home and era toward the positive relationship with immortal that Monica wants him to embrace (68).No doubt Monicas patience influences her son to embark on his journeying towards the Lord. By the measure her son is converted, Monica already has count less opportunities to develop patience in her life. Before her enduring attitude touches Augustines life, she is able to influence both her husband and mother-in-law. Referring to his mothers sham on the life of his grandmother, Augustine confirms that Monica won her completely by her unfailing patience and mildness (Confessions 9. 1243). such a straightforward nationment proves that he non exactly recognizes, but too admires the virtue of patience he sees in his mothers life.In one of his other works, Encounters With God in Augustines Confessions Books VII-IX, Carl G. Vaught draws attention to the accompaniment that Monicas victory in this courtship is an unusual feat in every culture (122). Perhaps demonstrating patience towards her mother-in-law is one of a womans superior accomplishments in life. If so, this would greatly substantiate Monicas character. Another virtue that Augustine reveres in Monicas life is her eternal perspective. This is seen in his rate of her last few days in the lead her death. He reports that to both of them the world with all its delights seemed cheap (Confessions 9. 245). Monicas focus on the life to come causes her to disregard the importance of her physical bodys terminal resting place. She gives instruction that her body is to be bury wherever it may be at the prison term of her death (9. 1246). Vaught again comments on the life of Monica, suggesting that she points beyond death and the call for to place the body in a particular place (Encounters 135). Monicas world power to see past the temporal life on earth illustrates her faith and esteem to Gods Word, which encourages the believer in II Corinthians 418 to dressed ore on that which is eternal.In comparison, Rebekah of the Old Testament is not as patient nor eternally object as Monica. Rather than waiting on the Lord to work in the lives of her family members, Rebekah feels the subscribe to to make things happen for herself. When Rebekah discovers that h er husband Skellenger 3 desires to bless their two sons she wastes no time to command the younger of the two boys, Jacob, to guile his father in post to grow the greater of the blessings. Though Jacob attempts to warn his mother of the potential danger she disregards it replying in contemporaries 2713, My son, let the curse nail down on me.Just do what I say. The lector virtually hears the impatience and haste in Rebekahs voice. In Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary on the substantial account book, he describes Rebekahs response as a very rash leger (162). He similarly points out the position that if Rebekah would have walked in patience and trust, kinda than impulsiveness and anxiety, Jacob could have received the blessing in a proper way since God had already promised in Genesis 2325 that he would be doomed (164). Both Rebekah and Monica receive the things they are after, to that extent in contrast to Monicas patience which produces calm nd harmony in her home, Reb ekahs impatience results in surplus strife and dissension amongst her family. It in like manner displays Rebekahs earthly and temporal mindset. She is so have-to doe with with an earthly inheritance for her son that she fails to call back that it is God who blesses and fulfills His Word in His correct timing and way. The virtues a woman possesses support have a huge impact on her view of marriage. Particular virtues may also shape her understanding and stamp about her responsibilities to her husband.While counseling her peers, Monica reveals her personal sentiment and view of marriage, calling it a matrimonial contractan instrument by which they became servants (Confessions 9. 1243). She also sees her life and the institute of marriage as a way to reach others and bring peace. Her son calls her a peacemaker amongst people quarreling and minds at discord (Confessions 9. 1244). Monica considered herself a servant within the realm of marriage. This thought consequently affec ts her opinion of what her responsibilities are to her husband. Augustine Skellenger 4 lainly describes Monicas behavior towards her husband in Book IX of Confessions, writing that she served him as her lord (1243). Such behavior obviously touches Augustine so greatly that he takes the time to include these particular facts in his work. Elizabeth A. Clark also observes in her book, St. Augustine On man and wife and Sexuality, that Augustine praises her for the humbly subordinate position she had assumed in relation to his father (21). Not only does Monica desire to live as a humble servant, she also sees her responsibility to be a peach for Christ to her husband.Augustine goes on to say in Confessions that Monica uses all her effort to win him to the Lord and does so by preachingto him by her character (9. 1243). What a beautiful picture of Christs love shining through her actions and integrity. She understands the power of her pure and submissive stockpile, as salutary as the negative influence actors line possess while spoken in uncontrolled emotion. As Vaught so attractively articulates, Monica is prepared to wait for Gods mercy to transform him (Encounters 121).Her approach to her husband may appear backwards to her peers, yet Monicas demeanor proves to have fearsome influence in her husbands life. In comparison to Monicas leniency and faithfulness to her husband, Rebekah chooses to act out of discouragement and fear. Though she serves her husband and family for the majority of her life, the legend of her and Jacobs deception illustrates a time when she decided to be lord of her house, preferably of submitting to the head of their home, Isaac. During that time she does not walk in integrity towards her husband as Monica did.On the contrary, she devises a plan found in Genesis 2714-17 to deceive Isaac by dressing up Jacob in order to appear as Esau, his brother. Instead of utilizing her position of wife and mother to promote peace she attempts to orchestrate a selfish and deceitfulness plan. This is a complete contrast to Monicas desire to be a witness and model of Gods love. Skellenger 5 Monica is a Godly woman, referred to by her son with same qualities found in the trinity chapter of I Timothy, such as making herself beautiful by submitting to her husband.Her perspective and conduct would be magnificent to see in todays women. Perhaps her slipway might be considered old fashioned, weak, or even a way of suppressing womens power. On the other hand, Rebekahs select to take charge is widely authorized and viewed as powerful in orderliness today. Yet by humbling herself, Monica receives Gods power, as well as answers to her many prayers, and in her supposed weaker state she has enormous influence and power that goes distant beyond the realm of Rebekahs direct strength. Skellenger 6 Works CitedAugustine, Aurelius, and Elizabeth A. Clark, ed. St. Augustine On Marriage and Sexuality Fathers of the Church V. 1. Washing ton, D. C. Catholic University of the States Press, 1996. http//www. netlibrary. com. library. dbu. edu2048/Reader/. Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the solid Bible Volume I (Genesis to Deuteronomy). Logos, Inc. 1706-1721. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. http//www. ccel. org/ccel/henry /mhc1. html. The divine Bible, naked as a jaybird International Version. International Bible Society, 1894. http//www. biblegateway. om/. Lawall, Sarah, and Maynard Mack, Eds. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2nd ed. Vol. B. New York W. W. Norton Company, 2002. Vaught, Carl G. The travel Toward God in Augustines Confessions Books I-VI. capital of New York State University of New York Press, 2003. http//www. netlibrary. com. library. dbu. edu2048/Reader/. Vaught, Carl G. Encounters With God in Augustines Confessions Books VII-IX. Albany State University of New York Press, 2004. <http//www. netlibrary. com. library. dbu. edu2048/Reader/>.