IN WHAT WAYS ARE THE TEACHINGS OF ST. AUGUSTINE RELEVANT IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

Today, self-help books fly off shelves. Personal growth is a trending topic of conversation. Everywhere we look, all signs seem to point inwards. Which leads us back to St. Augustine, and the idea that only in reflection and silence is true understanding achieved. He once wrote, “Do not go outside yourself, but enter into yourself, for truth dwells in the interior self.” Augustine was certainly ahead of the curve. But for Augustine, it didn’t stop with self-knowledge. This interior journey led to an encounter of the God who loved him, accompanied him and pushed him out into community, marked by a desire for the common good.

We as a University, and as a community, are on a constant journey to become what we are not yet. The point at which St. Augustine’s teachings differ from the cultural zeitgeist is this: to improve oneself does not mean to change or become something else, but rather, to become something more—the best version of oneself. But the journey there is not one we go on alone; it’s one we embark on together. Only through gaining the perspective of oneself in the context of community can we reach our greatest potential.

And so, St. Augustine’s teachings prove “ever ancient, ever new,” as each generation of Villanovans breathes new life and brings fresh interpretations to the table. We are all navigating how to be the best version of ourselves in every situation—whether in the fourth century or in 2024, on the stage or in the classroom, on the field or in our homes, in a room full of people or spending mindful time alone.

In this day and age, St. Augustine’s teachings serve as a reminder that the answer to some of life’s greatest questions and challenges can be found within ourselves, within our spirit—if we are courageous and humble enough to go searching for that truth.