This study continues the discussions of dating Augustine’s sermons, using Augustine’s sermons 5-8 and also Christmas sermons (184-196 and 369-370) as the basis. It also ineludes an excursus, summarizing the status of present discussions and identifying the value and goal of this effort from a methodological perspective.

This article deals with the key concept of “descensus” in Saint Augustine’s soteriology, as it is presented in Enarrationes in Psalmos, stressing the images that Augustine uses, and his linking of this “descensus” of Christ with Redemption’s mysteries.

To fully understand St. Augustine’s Cassiciacum dialogues, one must understand how they relate to the philosophical works of Marcus Tullius Cicero. Specifically, Augustine’s Contra Academicos is a response to Cicero’s Academica; and his De beata uita is a response to Cicero’s De finibus and Tusculanæ disputationes; and his De ordine is a response to Cicero’s trilogy on providence, De natura deorum, De diuinatione, and De fato. Recognizing the connection between these works sheds new light on the meaning and importance of the Cassiciacum dialogues.

In protecting the spiritual domain of the Church, Augustine began by bypassing State involvement, but as his willingness for coercion increased over time, he would often require the intervention of the secular domain, resulting often enough in their mutual benefit. The article assess and re-states the peculiar circumstances and how those impacted the development of the bishop of Hippo’s schema for religious coercion and ask whether this explanation suffices to clarify this enigmatic part of the life of Augustine.

The article deals with the controversy among Augustine and Julian of Eclanum, underlining the different interpretation of the quotations of Ambrose as it is reflected in Augustine’s work Contra lulianum opus imperfectum. Stresses also the accusations of Manicheism from lulianus to Augustine, and the different comprehension of Tradition, that Augustine and Julian had.

The article deals with the way in which Augustine presented his auctoritates in the debate with Julian of Eclanum, and how they functioned in his polemics. It leaves aside the content of the texts quoted, and the theological issues at stake in the debate between Julian and Augustine, for presenting, first Julian's complaints and critiques. Then a survey of the way in which Augustine presents the individual doctors. Finally it examines how these Fathers function in Augustine's defense.

This article examines three moments of ecstasy as evidenced in Books 6-9 of the Confessions. The narrative of Augustine’s conversions throughout the Confessions is clearly marked by three intellectual commitments: Manichaeism, Neoplatonism, and Christianity. It presents that Augustine uses an ecstatic experience in order to mark each of these three phases of his spiritual odyssey. Furthermore, in so doing, this method of argument sheds light on a very memorable scene which, at first glance, does not readily fit into Augustine’s story: Alypius at the games.

Speech on the ocasion of the inauguration of the conference Julian of Aeclanum and the christian Hirpinia’, on June 4th 2003, Naple.

The article deals with the pagan sources where the Valley of Ansanto is mentioned, especially the works of Vergil, and also other cultural and literary references, since this Valley is explicitly mentioned by Julian of Eclanum in his controversy with Augustine (cf. c. lul. imp. 1,48). It presents also the references of Marius Mercator.

This article deals with some of Saint Augustine’s Lent sermons, underlining, first the way in which Augustine relates the number of days before Easter to the life of the human being in this World. It also develops the topic of the imitatio Christi as it is presented in these sermons and the different possibilities for fasting during Lent. Finally it stresses some theological concepts developed in these sermons.