LettersVolume 5 (204-270)

This volume concludes the series of translations of the Letters of St. Augustine in Fathers of the Church. The Letters recently discovered by Johann Divjak have not yet been translated. While many of the letters in this volume date from the closing decade of Augustine's life, the last thirty-nine cannot with certainty be assigned to a definite date. As to subject matter problems stemming from the Donatist schism and Pelagianism still claim a fair part of Augustine's attention. He is also obliged to defend himself against objections raised by ecclesiastics against his teachings on grace, free will and predestination. Problems of Church discipline continued to call for attention to the very end of the life of the bishop of Hippo. Very likely the best known letter is Letter 211, the so-called Rule of St. Augustine; it is also the most controversial. Occasioned by disturbances in a local community of sisters who apparently already had some norms to regulate their community life, the letter focuses on shortcomings in charity, observance of the common life, prayer, mortification, care of the sick, modest demeanor outside the convent, respect and obedience toward the superior. In the sense of a complete set of norms officially approved by the Church for a religious community, however, the Letter is not a rule.