Some Considerations on Holiness in Saint Augustine
Some Considerations on Holiness in Saint Augustine

Summary/Abstract: The article aims to present several lines of thought of Saint Augustine’s, which are part of his theory of holiness. In a series of works on marriage and virginity, Saint Augustine subtly captures the differences between the two lifestyles and emphasizes the virtues of each, realizing that a Christian community cannot grow in the absence of marriage and the birth of infants, but neither can it be complete in the absence of asceticism. But asceticism is not always just about following a path chosen by the individual through free will. It is the culmination of a divine plan, which bears the imprint of holiness when it intersects with the will of man. Thus, in De sancta uirginitate, Saint Augustine distinguishes between sancta uirgo and uirgo, sketching the two types of human model. Focusing on the former, which is visibly more agreeable, allows a reflection on the spiritual ties between generations and on the significance of legitimate marriage, from which babies with a certain soul structure are born. However, the personal responsibility of the individual who joins the path of asceticism remains a priority, and the observance of the oath of chastity and the improvement of one’s moral profile remain two indispensable conditions to fulfil.

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