On the Catechising of the Uninstructed
Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
First published 405
Augustine's De catechizandis rudibus, staged here in the public-domain NPNF English translation by S. D. F. Salmond.
Caput I: How Augustin Writes in Answer to a Favor Asked by a Deacon of Carthage.
Caput II: How It Often Happens that a Discourse Which Gives Pleasure to the Hearer is Distasteful to the Speaker; And What Explanation is to Be Offered of that Fact.
Caput III: Of the Full Narration to Be Employed in Catechising.
Caput IV: That the Great Reason for the Advent of Christ Was the Commendation of Love.
Caput V: That the Person Who Comes for Catechetical Instruction is to Be Examined with Respect to His Views, on Desiring to Become a Christian.
Caput VI: Of the Way to Commence the Catechetical Instruction, and of the Narration of Facts from the History of the World’s Creation on to the Present Times of the Church.
Caput VII: Of the Exposition of the Resurrection, the Judgment, and Other Subjects, Which Should Follow This Narration.
Caput VIII: Of the Method to Be Pursued in Catechising Those Who Have Had a Liberal Education.
Caput IX: Of the Method in Which Grammarians and Professional Speakers are to Be Dealt with.
Caput X: Of the Attainment of Cheerfulness in the Duty of Catechising, and of Various Causes Producing Weariness in the Catechumen.
Caput XI: Of the Remedy for the Second Source of Weariness.
Caput XII: Of the Remedy for the Third Source of Weariness.
Caput XIII: Of the Remedy for the Fourth Source of Weariness.
Caput XIV: Of the Remedy Against the Fifth and Sixth Sources of Weariness.
Caput XV: Of the Method in Which Our Address Should Be Adapted to Different Classes of Hearers.
Caput XVI: A Specimen of a Catechetical Address; And First, the Case of a Catechumen with Worthy Views.
Caput XVII: The Specimen of Catechetical Discourse Continued, in Reference Specially to the Reproval of False Aims on the Catechumen’s Part.
Caput XVIII: Of What is to Be Believed on the Subject of the Creation of Man and Other Objects.
Caput XIX: Of the Co-Existence of Good and Evil in the Church, and Their Final Separation.
Caput XX: Of Israel’s Bondage in Egypt, Their Deliverance, and Their Passage Through the Red Sea.
Caput XXI: Of the Babylonish Captivity, and the Things Signified Thereby.
Caput XXII: Of the Six Ages of the World.
Caput XXIII: Of the Mission of the Holy Ghost Fifty Days After Christ’s Resurrection.
Caput XXIV: Of the Church in Its Likeness to a Vine Sprouting and Suffering Pruning.
- Ecclesia quasi vitis pullulat, et putatur. Ex iis quae videntur impleta, credantur praedicta quae restant implenda, praesertim judicium futurum. Sed illa vitis quae per orbem terrarum, sicut de illa prophetatum, et ab ipso Domino praenuntiatum erat, fructuosos palmites diffundebat, tanto pullulabat amplius, quanto uberiore martyrum sanguine rigabatur. Quibus per omnes terras innumerabiliter pro fidei veritate morientibus, etiam ipsa persequentia regna cesserunt, et ad Christum cognoscendum atque venerandum fracta superbiae cervice conversa sunt. Oportebat autem ut eadem vitis, sicut a Domino identidem praedictum erat, putaretur, et ex ea praeciderentur infructuosa sarmenta (Joan. XV, 2), quibus haereses et schismata per loca facta sunt, sub Christi nomine, non ipsius gloriam, sed suam quaerentium, per quorum adversitates magis magisque exerceretur Ecclesia, et probaretur atque illustraretur et doctrina ejus et patientia. 45. Omnia ergo haec, sicut tanto ante praedicta legimus, sic et facta cognoscimus: et quemadmodum primi christiani, quia nondum ista provenisse videbant, miraculis movebantur ut crederent; sic nos quia omnia ista ita completa sunt, sicut ea in Libris legimus, qui longe antequam haec implerentur conscripti sunt, ubi omnia futura dicebantur, et praesentia jam videntur, aedificamur ad fidem, ut etiam illa quae restant, sustinentes et perseverantes in Domino, sine dubitatione ventura credamus. Siquidem adhuc tribulationes futurae in eisdem Scripturis leguntur, et ipse ultimus judicii dies, ubi omnes cives ambarum illarum civitatum receptis corporibus surrecturi sunt, et rationem vitae suae ante tribunal Christi judicis reddituri. Veniet enim in claritate potestatis, qui prius in humilitate humanitatis venire dignatus est; et omnes pios ab impiis segregabit: non tantum eis qui in eum credere omnino noluerunt, sed etiam eis qui frustra et infructuose crediderunt in eum; illis daturus regnum secum aeternum, illis autem poenam aeternam cum diabolo. Sed sicut nullum gaudium rerum temporalium ex aliqua parte simile potest inveniri gaudio vitae aeternae, quam sancti accepturi sunt; ita nullus cruciatus poenarum temporalium potest sempiternis iniquorum cruciatibus comparari.