Dr. Paul Thigpen is your guide for The Commentaries: The Confessions of St. Augustine. A unique blend of autobiography, philosophy, and theology, Confessions encapsulates Augustine’s journey from the depths of worldly indulgence to the profound sanctity for which he is venerated today. Thigpen reveals his intense personal connection to this poignant odyssey with 20 enlightening episodes of key excerpts and insights.
Paul Thigpen, PhD, is an internationally known speaker, best-selling author, and award-winning journalist. He has published fifty-nine books, including the Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Saints Who Saw Hell, and Extraterrestrial Intelligence and the Catholic Faith. In addition, he has published more than five hundred journal and magazine articles in more than forty religious and secular periodicals. His work has been circulated worldwide and translated into sixteen languages. Paul graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a BA in Religious Studies. Awarded the Woodruff, Javitz, and Salvatori Fellowships for graduate study, he earned an MA and PhD in historical theology from Emory University. In 2008, Paul was appointed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to their National Advisory Council. He has also served the Church as a university theology professor, historian, apologist, catechist, and musician.
Welcome to The Commentaries season on The Confessions of St. Augustine! Dr. Paul Thigpen serves as your guide for this classic spiritual autobiography. The series begins with an overview of St. Augustine’s life and times in the late fourth and early fifth centuries, marked by political turmoil, the fall of
Dr. Paul Thigpen explores Saint Augustine’s spiritual journey, discussing his initial questions about God and the soul. The Confessions is identified as the first spiritual autobiography in the Christian tradition, shedding light on Augustine’s early years and providing detailed insights into his thoughts on theology, devotion, philosophy, and psychology. Thigpen emphasizes the
Dr. Paul Thigpen explores Saint Augustine’s reflections on childhood, divine grace, and the foundations of identity. Augustine contemplates the mysterious beginning of life, emphasizing the role of God’s grace in every aspect, from bodily existence to the formation of one’s character. The narrative delves into Augustine’s early years, revealing his
St. Augustine reflects on the shattering impact of sin, describing how it fragments and scatters the soul. He delves into the disorder of love, emphasizing the need to love God above all else. The narrative unfolds with Augustine’s struggle, influenced by his parents’ actions, his friends, and his own disordered
St. Augustine, initially a gifted young man, faced moral challenges in the vice-ridden city of Carthage. Engaging in lustful pursuits and embracing the theater, Augustine’s soul grappled with the consequences of his actions. The episode concludes with glimpses of Saint Monica, Augustine’s mother, persistently praying for his return to the
Dr. Paul Thigpen explores the historical context of Saint Augustine’s association with the Manichean sect, a radical offshoot of Gnosticism. Augustine’s journey unfolds, revealing his struggles with lust, his embrace of Manichean beliefs, and the profound impact of a friend’s conversion on his own spiritual path, ultimately leading to a
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