To speak of the son, first speak of the mother

Monica is a strong-willed woman. Her singular purpose is Aurelius; her first and eldest son

The family lives at Thagaste in Numidia, now named: Souk Ahras in Algeria. Thagaste is inland from the North African coast, just at the point where the veneer of Roman civilization thins in the Numidian highlands. Aurelius is educated at home and then at Thagaste. He then goes to Madauros and Carthage, two North African centres for further studies. Aurelius did well in Greek and philosophy. He excels in Latin and rhetoric. With studies completed, he travels to Rome, then to Milan. In Milan, he works for two years teaching rhetoric. His academic career lasts two years. His life is purposeless, aimless, empty…

Aurelius, though raised within the Christian faith, he is not baptized

Early Christian doctrine advocates infant baptism. Doctrine also urges adults be baptized. For adults, baptism is counter to logic. Baptism cleans the soul for entry into heaven. For baptized adults after a life on earth, entry into heaven may be hindered. Consequently, Patricius, Monica’s husband, conforming to normative behaviour, is baptized on his deathbed

Aurelius, in Thagaste, has a son by a household slave. Not acceptable behaviour, so get rid of the girl and marry respectfully… His days are marked with drinking and whoring in Madauros and Carthage with more in Rome and Milan. But Monica follows Aurelius to Milan. What is said…? Aurelius renounces debauchery, he consents to be baptized

Later in life, Aurelius writes of his conversion in a work titled Confessionum, the Confessions. The work is filled with phrases: quid enim miserius misero non miserante se ipsum et flente…, What is more wretched than a wretch that does not pity his own wretchedness, weeping… and, non te amabam, et fornicabar abs te, et fornicanti sonabat undique “euge, euge.” amicitia enim mundi huius fornicatio est abs te et “euge, euge” dicitur… I did not love thee, and I strayed from thee in fornication and to my fornicating there resounded everywhere the applause “Well done, well done!”: For love of this world is fornication against thee, and the applause “Well done, well done” makes a man ashamed not to be that kind of man, it was said…

Monica, on her return journey to Thagaste; dies enroute. Sometime later she is canonized and declared the patroness of mothers who have undisciplined sons. ah! spes indisciplinatorum filiorum

Cited below are the opening two paragraphs to Confessionum. Aurelius commences by speaking of his school days. We are given observations on the psychology of learning, and these words turn into emotional and religious elaboration. Throughout the work, words proclaim Aurelian culpability