There are few writers in history as inspiring and influential as St. Augustine. A prolific author, brilliant theologian and passionate preacher, his works number among the most significant in Western civilization. Although I strongly suggest every Christian to make all of St. Augustine’s writings a staple of their reading regiment, there is one that stands out above the others: The Confessions. It is no exaggeration to say that this book is vital to the existence of modern literature and theology. It is the first auto-biography ever written, detailing the innermost thoughts and actions of a person’s life. The sheer candidness and vulnerability of Augustine’s words are stunning. What is more, the African bishop’s language is nothing short of poetic, a flawless assortment of prose filled with rich imagery. The saint shares his most intimate struggles holding nothing back. From his childhood in the North African city of Thagaste to his party days as a teenager and young adult in the bars of Rome, St. Augustine conveys a story of trial, confusion, scandal and redemption. Perhaps what is most touching however, is the sheer humanity of Augustine’s words. St. Augustine’s Confessions capture the struggles of every human being. His personal tribulation is relatable to everyone who wonders why they exist, how they can satiate their heart’s desires and what is the meaning of life. Passion charges every word in the book. As St. Teresa of Avila once said, “Augustine is a man who dips the quill of his pen in the blood of his heart and thrust it upon the page.” Augustine is on a journey and he takes the reader with him. His is a “hungering heart” a soul tirelessly bound to the quest of contentment. As a child he tried disrespect and thievery. As a teenager and young adult he wallowed in debauchery and lust. As an adult, he sought fame and wealth. Yet, in the end, he realized that all of these pleasures pointed to one ultimate answer: God. Augustine says it most beautifully in his own words. “Late have I loved you [O Lord]. You were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made…[But] You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours…now I know O Lord…our hearts are restless till they rest in You!”