Although at first sight the Speculum contains ‘too little Augustine’ for theologians who are attempting to discover the originality of this thought, it is in fact a revealing anthology. An examination of the criteria used for the selection of Scriptural quotations brings to light an important facet of his mystagogy. Both the exclusion and inclusion criteria demonstrate that Augustine’s intention is to confront his reader with his own imperfections, and this to a much greater degree than is suggested by the (...) understatement of Speculum 108 that the moral guidelines proffered should have an immediate impact. Augustine’s aim in writing the Speculum is to effect a confrontation of the reader with himself, in a first, but permanent step on the way of mystagogy. Scripture serves as a mirror to reflect as detailed and unpolished an image as possible of the person who looks into it; the confrontation must be as violent as possible. (shrink)
En este artículo, partiendo de un análisis del "De beata uita" y del "Praeceptum", el autor quiere demostrar que las directrices de la antigua filosofía tuvieron un efecto más prolongado sobre Agustín, más allá de lo que puedan aportarnos los estudios sobre su punto de vista sobre la gracia o incluso sus propias palabras en "Confessiones".
Towards the end of a ramble: transfer of knowledge, embracing values and the teaching profession according to AugustineIn this article the first traces of Augustine’s desire to be not only a teacher but also, in conjunction with this, a writer of protreptics are pointed out in his Soliloquia and his De catechizandis rudibus. Protrepsis and first catechesis need to coincide. In De catechizandis rudibus, he advised deacon Deogratias to clarify the Last Judgement and the resurrection of the body. These two (...) doctrines were both a pièce de resistance for pagans, and therefore also for rudes. The choice of these doctrines demonstrates Augustine’s attempt to have the deacon adopt a protreptic approach in his first catechesis ‐ possibly without Deogratias even knowing it himself. There was no chance that the beginners would already be truly acquainted with these essential aspects of the Christian view of the world and of the future. As it turns out, the line between protrepsis and catechesis is a very fine one in this case. (shrink)
