SERMO 356
SERMON OF THE SAME HOLY AUGUSTINE THE SECOND
On the Morals of the Clergymen Living Together
The way of life of the first Church is an example for the monastery of Hippo.
A discourse must be given to your charity about ourselves. For as the Apostle says: "We have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men"; those who love us seek what to praise in us; but those who hate us detract us. But we, standing in the midst of both, aided by the Lord our God, ought to so guard both our life and our reputation, that the praisers are not ashamed by the detractors. However, how we wish to live, and how by God's favor we already live, although many of you know from Holy Scripture, nevertheless to remind you, a reading from the book of the Acts of the Apostles will be recited to you, so that you may see where the form is described, which we desire to fulfill. Therefore, while it is being recited, I want you to be most attentive, so that after its recitation, what I have undertaken to speak might be, with the Lord's gift, directed to your attention.
And the deacon Lazarus read: "When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with all boldness to anyone willing to believe. The community of believers was of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the Apostles' feet; and it was distributed to each as any had need."
When Lazarus the deacon had recited this and handed the book to the bishop, Bishop Augustine said: "And I too wish to read. For it delights me more to be a reader of this word than a disputant of my own word."
"When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with all boldness to anyone willing to believe. The community of believers was of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the Apostles' feet; and it was distributed to each as any had need."
And when the bishop read, he said:
What is said about the monastery.
You have heard what we wish: pray that we may be able [to achieve it]. A certain necessity arose, however, that I should deal with these matters more diligently: for, as you already know, a presbyter established in our fellowship, to which the reading that you just heard when we recited it bears witness, made a will while dying, because he had something from which to make [it]. He had something he could call his own, even though he lived in that fellowship where it was not permitted for anyone to call anything his own, but all things were common to them. If any admirer and praiser of ours were to extol that fellowship to one of our detractors and say: "With Bishop Augustine, all his cohabitants live as it is written in the Acts of the Apostles," immediately that detractor, shaking his head, baring his teeth, would say: "Really, do they live as you say? Why are you lying? Why do you honor the unworthy with false praise? Did not a presbyter, who was recently part of their fellowship, make a will, and dispose of what he had as he wished, and leave it? Surely, everything there is common? Surely, no one calls anything his own?" Faced with these words, what could my praiser do? Wouldn't that detractor stop his mouth as if with lead? Wouldn't he regret having praised us? Wouldn't he, filled with reverence and confounded by that detractor's speech, either curse us or that testator? This was the necessity that led us to come to this diligence.
What is discovered about poverty. About Patricius and Valens.
I therefore announce to you something to rejoice about. I have found all my brothers and fellow clerics who live with me, priests, deacons, subdeacons, and Patricius my nephew, to be as I desired. But there are two who, from their own modest poverty, have not yet done what they decided to do: Valens the subdeacon, and my aforementioned nephew. The subdeacon was hindered by his mother's life, because he lived off her support, and he was also waiting for the arrival of lawful age so that he might do it firmly. He has not yet done so because he holds the small plots of land jointly with his brother, and they are undividedly possessed. He wishes to confer them to the Church so that his own who live in holiness may be sustained from them as long as they live in this life. For it is written, and the Apostle speaks of it: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Moreover, the slaves are also held in common with his brother, not yet divided. He plans to set them free, but cannot until they are divided. He does not know which would belong to him. Indeed, the division belongs to him who is elder, and the choice to his brother. His brother serves God, as a subdeacon, with my holy brother and fellow bishop Severus in the Church of Milevi. This must be done, this must be completed without delay: that those slaves be divided, liberated, and thus he may give to the Church, to support those from their sustenance. As for my nephew, since he converted and began living with me, he too was hindered from doing something about his fields by the usufructuary life of his mother. This year she died. There are some matters between him and his sisters that, with Christ's help, must soon be resolved: so that he may do what befits a servant of God, as this profession and this reading demand.
Regarding the deacons. Faustinus,
Deacon Faustinus, as almost all of you know, here from military service of the world was turned to the monastery: here baptized, thence ordained deacon. But because it is little that he seems to possess, as the jurists say, in law, not in body, he had left it, and it was held by his brothers. He never thought about it since he was converted, nor did he ask anything from his brothers, nor was anything asked from him. Now, because time has come to this juncture, following my counsel, he divided the property: and he donated half to his brothers, half to the poor Church established in the same place.
Severus,
Deacon Severus, under the discipline and chastisement of God, as you know, has not lost the light of his mind. He bought a house here for the sake of his mother and sister, whom he desired to bring here from his homeland. However, he did not buy it with his own money, which he did not have, but with contributions from the faithful, whom he even named to me when I inquired. I cannot say what he did or what he plans to do, except that he placed everything in my will, so that what I want may be done with it. But he has some issues with his mother, of which he made me the judge, so that when these issues are resolved, whatever I wish will be done with the house. And what could I wish, under God's guidance, other than what justice orders and piety demands? He also has some small plots of land in his homeland: he intends to distribute them in such a way that he can also donate to the Church to be given to the poor in that same place.
deacon of Hippo,
A deacon of Hippo is a poor man: he has nothing to give to anyone. Nevertheless, from his labors before he became a clergyman, he bought some servants: today he will release them in your presence in the episcopal proceedings.
Eraclius.
Deacon Eraclius is before your eyes, his works shine before our eyes. From his work, with his spent money, we have the memory of the holy martyr. From his own money, he even bought a possession with my counsel, for he wanted that very money to be distributed through my hands, as I pleased. If I were greedy for money, or cared more about my very own needs, which I have for the poor, I would take the money. Why, someone may ask? Because that possession, which was bought by him and donated to the Church, still provides nothing to the Church. It had less value than the price. What was borrowed is still being paid from its produce. I am an old man, how many fruits from that possession can benefit me? Do I promise myself to live so many years until it pays off its price? What therefore was hardly returned over time, I would have soon had all, if I had wanted to take it. I did not, I attended to something else. I confess to you, and I was still suspicious of his age, and feared lest, as humans are, it might displease his mother, and she might say that the young man was brought forth by me to consume his paternal goods and leave him in want. Therefore, I wanted his money to be preserved in that possession, so that if anything, which God forbid and averts, happened otherwise than we wish, the villa would be returned, lest the bishop’s reputation be blamed. For I know how necessary my reputation is to you: for my conscience suffices for me. He also bought a space known to you near the rear of the church; and with his own money, he built a house: and this you know; a few days before I should speak to you on this matter, he donated it to the Church: this you know. He expected to complete it, that he might give it perfect. However, there was no necessity for him to build the house, except that he thought his mother would come here. If she had come before, she would live in her son's work; now if she comes, she will live in her son's work. I testify to him; he remained poor: but he remained in the possession of charity. Some servants had been left to him, now indeed living in the monastery, whom yet he will today manumit by ecclesiastic records. Therefore, let no one say: He is rich; let no one think, let no one speak ill, let no one tear himself and his soul with his own teeth. He does not have money, he saved money: would that he may restore what he owes!
Subdeacons.
The others, that is, the deacons, are poor; with God's favor, they await the mercy of God. Hence, they have nothing to give themselves: having no means, they have ended worldly desires. They live with us in common society: no one distinguishes them from those who brought something. The unity of charity is to be preferred before the earthly convenience of inheritance.
About the priests.
There remain the presbyters. For I wanted to ascend to them gradually. Quickly I would say, they are the poor of God. They brought nothing to the house of our society except love itself, than which there is nothing dearer. Nevertheless, since I know rumors have arisen about their wealth, they must be cleared by my speech to you, not compelled by me to anything.