A Review of Confessions by St. Augustine

 This small post, is not the place to discuss the intellectual and spiritual influence of the great St. Augustine of Hippo. Nor it is a place to give a debate of where he stood theologically. Last, I am not here to give details of how Augustine influenced later theologians including Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther,  John Calvin, or John Wesley.
 The Confessions of St. Augustine is just of the many great works of Augustine, and no doubt a good introduction to his works. It however, as profound as it is, is not my favorite work of Augustine. My favorite is the Enchiridion: On Faith, Hope and Charity. I will address this other work, more so later.
 That said, every Christian should read the Confessions. The thirteen books of the Confessions are more of Augustine's lament over his past sin, then they are theological, though some theology is contained therein as well.
The Confessions follow's some details of Augustine's gnostic path, and the strong prayer warrior, so often found in his mother, Monica. Augustine for many years had lived an immoral life, full of lustful pleasure, and Monica never ceased praying for her son. However, when Augustine did convert to Christianity, largely due to the evangelization by St. Ambrose of Milan, Augustine would never cease lamenting over his sin's offences to God.
 To often do we Christians not lament over our sin against God, which so offends the Holy Righteous Lord. God expects more from us than saying we are sorry, we must have penitent hearts, and the more penitence to God we have over our sin against Him, the closer we bring ourselves to holiness.
 For me Augustine, never ceases to be profound nor wise. His writings are timeless, and largely as relevant now as in the 5th century. To me, he is in many ways, one of my leading mentors, along with C. S. Lewis.
 The Confessions have had a profound impact on Western Civilization's literature, as well as foundations to Medieval Catholicism.
 That said, read not simply Confessions but also City of God, which I am currently reading. I plan to read all the books by this great saint.
 I love the Confessions, and it along, with the Canterbury Tales are my favorite works of Medieval Literature.

If those words don't inspire you, perhaps Augustine's full work will. 

''Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, ''

 -Ezekiel 19: 11