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Sermons to the People: Advent, Christmas, New Year, Epiphany

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Overview

A superb new translation brings the words of Augustine the preacher stirringly to life!When the great Saint Augustine was called from his country home to become Bishop of Hippo in the fourth century, his new responsibilities took him away from the solitude of his writing and into the glare of the public eye. The author of two of the greatest works of religious literature, Confessions and City of God, Augustine became a shepherd to the people, inspiring and enlightening them with his sermons. His skills as a speaker were as great-if not greater-than his skills as a writer. According to his friend Possidius, "Those who read what Augustine wrote on the divine topics do get something out of them. But those who saw and heard him in person-they were the ones who got heaven and Earth." Sermons to the People collects the homilies on the liturgical seasons of the Church Saint Augustine delivered over the course of his lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

The Augustinian renaissance continues with this volume devoted to the saint's sermons from Advent through Epiphany. Griffin offers a lively introduction, describing Augustine's history and the ritual observance of the winter holidays in the fourth century, and then provides comfortable, "paraphrasal" translations of 23 sermons. It's a real treat to read them, for they remind us that although Augustine has survived for us as a writer-most notably for his Confessions and City of God-he was in his own day primarily a bishop and a priest, preaching regularly over a period of 30 years. Griffin writes that it is through Augustine's rarely published sermons that we encounter an impassioned orator, "revealing the real Augustine, not the one we thought we knew." The volume closes with three appendices containing essays that contextualize Augustine's preaching. (Oct. 15) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

Author Information

Bio of Henry William Griffin

Henry William Griffin is a writer, editor, translator, and journalist living in Alexandria, Louisiana. He has most recently translated The Imitation of Christ and has also done major biographical work on C. S. Lewis and Billy Graham.

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Additional Info

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610.74 KB

Number of Pages

272

eBook ISBN

9780385508346

Excerpt from: Sermons to the People by Henry William Griffin

1

SERMO LI

Advent

BIRTHDAY OF CHRIST--INSOLUBLE PROBLEM OR INCREDIBLE DAY?

How shall I address you, my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ? What's the appropriate collective for a gathering of Christians? A Quorum or Quarum? A Choir or Quire? How about a Caritas, a Sanctitas, a Felicitas Ecclesiae? A Charity, a Sanctity, a Felicity Assembly? They have a nice ring, don't they?

It's December, my dear Charity in Christ. As I reminded you the last time we met, Christmas is fast approaching. And now that Christ has aroused our seasonal expectations, He'll soon fulfill them all!

But before I begin, may I offer my usual disclaimer. What I say here may appear to be mine, what with my mouthing the words and all, but as you know, nothing I say this morning is really mine. It's all God's, I assure you.

The Apostle Paul said much the same thing in his Second to the Corinthians (4:6-7). The Word of God is stashed in shapely earthen vessels--that's us--but there's no mistaking a jar of clay for the Word of God. And only when the pot is opened--need I say it?--does the Word pour out.

But I've digressed...

Last year, do you remember Christmas morning? You came to celebrate the solemn feast. I was sermonizing about the thorny problems in the genealogies of Christ when a strange thing happened. I looked up, and you'd all dozed off. Well, of course, I stopped instantly, promising I'd return to the sermon at some point in the future. And then another strange thing happened. You all woke up. Happily, we continued the liturgy together.

That day I prayed God I wouldn't forget my promise. Apparently, He's answered my humble petition. I've just remembered it, even if you didn't, and I'm ready to make good on my promise.

As for today, there's no particular feast to commemorate, and I can only hope that you're ready to hear me finish the sermon. I'll make every effort to speak clearly--I promise you that. And you're going to make every effort to stay awake--you should promise me that. Last thing I want to do is speak to deaf hearts and dull souls.

A further word.

An ordinary day it may be on the church calendar, but it's also right smack in the middle of the December gladiatorial schedule. It's no wonder, then, that the church is only half full. The rest of you must be in the amphitheater, looking more for entertainment than salvation. I could say--They've given themselves to games of the Flesh, as it were, but have yet to pay attention due to games of the Truth!--but I won't. Ah well, for their salvation as much for ours, let's pray to God without distractions of any kind.

Now I know some of you dear folk won't join me in this prayer. I know for a fact that there are among you those who hate the gamers as much as the games themselves. Why? Because they're breaking down the good habits they've labored a lifetime to build up.