Libanius
But in terms of guidance and spirituality, however, Libanius looked to another woman, the goddess, Fortune. This may explain why his mother’s hold is not as strong on him, because Libanius in a way, had two mothers. Whenever he faced trials, and knows that some good will come out of it, he credits it to Fortune: “I was under the protection of Fortune,” “Fortune devised the following remedy.” He attributes motherly roles to Fortune who protects him and gives him a “remedy” when he is hurt. He found comfort not in his mother but in a god. In a way, this makes him similar to Augustine who also looks to God for guidance but in his case, his mother, Monica is a crucial connection. As in his writings, Augustine’s approach to everything was internal.
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“But neither my mother nor my nurses filled their breasts of their own accord, for it was you who used them.” Like Libanius, Augustine believed that comfort and relief actually came from God. But in this case, not only was his mother the reason why God is so merciful towards him, sinner that he is, but also is the mediator between Augustine and God. So not only was she receptive of God’s graces--be it breast milk, visions, or blessings in general--she is also able to transmit it or pass it on to other people. This is what makes Augustine even more dependent on her, because God also physically reaches out to him through his mother. One way Augustine feels the presence of God is through his mother as opposed to Libanius whose mother and his spirituality are two separate …show more content…
Not only was his mother’s influence strong, but Augustine himself was more sensitive and prone to the influence of women. Augustine easily set his conversion to Manichaeism aside, but the one thing that really kept him from becoming Christian was his lust. “I had prayed to you... ' Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.' For I was afraid that you would answer my prayer at once and cure me too soon of the disease of lust…” Women has always been his weakness. Augustine discusses how he postponed embracing Christianity because he wanted love and to tie the knot. Either way, whether he is with mother or a wife, he binds himself to some kind of
“But neither my mother nor my nurses filled their breasts of their own accord, for it was you who used them.” Like Libanius, Augustine believed that comfort and relief actually came from God. But in this case, not only was his mother the reason why God is so merciful towards him, sinner that he is, but also is the mediator between Augustine and God. So not only was she receptive of God’s graces--be it breast milk, visions, or blessings in general--she is also able to transmit it or pass it on to other people. This is what makes Augustine even more dependent on her, because God also physically reaches out to him through his mother. One way Augustine feels the presence of God is through his mother as opposed to Libanius whose mother and his spirituality are two separate …show more content…
Not only was his mother’s influence strong, but Augustine himself was more sensitive and prone to the influence of women. Augustine easily set his conversion to Manichaeism aside, but the one thing that really kept him from becoming Christian was his lust. “I had prayed to you... ' Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.' For I was afraid that you would answer my prayer at once and cure me too soon of the disease of lust…” Women has always been his weakness. Augustine discusses how he postponed embracing Christianity because he wanted love and to tie the knot. Either way, whether he is with mother or a wife, he binds himself to some kind of