Augustine’s Preaching for a Pilgrim Church

Abstract

In this study I examine Augustine’s sermons on pilgrimage as they illustrate his conception of the Christian life as a journey through this life on to the next. In chapter 1, I argue that these sermons were intended to move souls spiritually forward along that journey to and in Christ. Each sermon is best conceived as a signpost pointing the way forward, and forming the identity, practices, and perspectives of Augustine’s listeners as pilgrims journeying to their final and ultimate home. In Chapter 2 I sketch an ecclesiological reflection on the pilgrim people evident in Augustine’s sermons. In Chapter 3 I introduce prayer as a pilgrim practice that nourishes and sustains pilgrims on their journey. In Chapter 4 I consider joy as a pilgrim posture that both urges pilgrims forward to their final end in Christ, while also strengthening them on the path to Christ that is Christ. Finally, in the conclusion I discuss the contemporary significance of Augustine’s preaching through selective engagement with contemporary scholarship to illuminate Augustine’s distinctive theological contributions and their relevance to current discourse.