augustine as mentor

Augustine as Mentor

Augustine's Influence

In writing a book about a figure who played a fairly eminent role in the ecclesiastical history of Christianity such Aurelius Augustine, who lived from 354-430 A.D., Edward Smither has a wide body of thematic issues with which to choose from in his work of non-fiction entitled Augustine as a Mentor, A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders. As the title of this manuscript implies, the author is largely concerned with the detailing of various aspects of mentorship related to Augustine. In doing so, he highlights the important figures who were able to mentor Augustine, as well as the plethora of ways in which Augustine was able to mentor others. Not surprisingly, the principle themes in Smither's work revolve about the varying effects and ramifications of mentoring. His primary concern is providing a definition, or model, of what effective mentorship actually is, and then applying this concept to Augustine's proclivities towards this relationship with others. While doing so, the author reiterates the motifs that Augustine was benignly humble, which helped his mentorship capability, and highly influential through his writing and his establishing of monasteries, with which he is able to continue his presence as a mentor to this very day. By examining these two themes in relation to his third, that of the model of mentorship, Smither is able to thoroughly examine Augustine's efficaciousness as a mentor by a means that is as objective as possible.

The basis for the duration of this manuscript can be found in the eight characteristics of positive mentorship -- that are aligned with constructive discipleship based upon proper belief -- with which the author invokes frequently to describe the mentorship attributes of a number of figures, not just that of Augustine. The effectiveness of other Christian leaders such as Cyprian of Carthage, Pachomius of Egypt, and Ambrose of Milan, among others, is analyzed based upon these eight characteristics, as well as comparatively minor analyses of Augustine's mentors, which included his mother, certain friends, as well as important people in his life such as Valerius and Simplicianus. However, once the author shifts his focus from archetypes of mentoring and mentors of Augustine to Augustine's prowess as a mentor, it becomes readily apparent that one of his most salient tendencies as a leader was to maintain a self-effacing humility that would follow him for the duration of his career. The fact that Augustine's effect as a mentor would span considerably longer than his physical life on earth is evident by the author's deconstruction of the influence of Augustine's writing and the monasteries he took part in propagating, which continue to have value in the forming of disciples and serving of mentorship in contemporary society.

In focusing on the large degree of humility that would characterize the majority of Augustine's leadership and efficaciousness as a mentor, Smither provides an abundant quantity of references and detail that leave little doubt as to his authenticity, and veracity on this particular subject. His conviction, therefore, in repeatedly demonstrating Augustine's innate nature of looking to delegate authority to others, to receive constructive criticism on his writings of a theological nature, and his initial hesitancy to become co-Bishop (Smither 2009, 123) is one of the areas of strength in his accessing of this motif. However, there are times when the author seems to be needlessly repeating points that were alluded to or directly stated earlier in the manuscript, which seem to slow down the pace of the read and have a tendency to mire the experience in facts and citations that occasionally detract from the overall point he is trying to make. Still, all things considered, this minor flaw fails to negate the overall conviction which the author has by repeatedly reinforcing his assertions with facts. Some of the demonstrations of Augustine's humility, such as his willingness to reconcile with a compatriot who had alternative views on theological issues, are fairly elucidating, and do well to further the author's analysis of Augustine's humility -- particularly when this tendency of his is measured against the eight characteristics of a mentor.

The most enduring way in which Augustine was able to propagate his efforts at mentorship, of course, was through his writing. Smither takes great pains to demonstrate that this fact was perhaps the most influential means in which Augustine's presence and his theological beliefs would be perpetuated for posterity. The author points out the prudence of Augustine's cataloging of his writings into a formal library (Smither 2009, 256) that have been preserved so that his beliefs could be disseminated. Again, Smith's forte in this regard is his examples of how Augustine's presence was able to influence people throughout the many generations since his physical demise, including during the Middle Ages as well as during the Reformation. Another highly beneficial aspect of Smither' portrayal of the influence of Augustine's writing can be evinced in the fact that he is able to elucidate some of the more eminent theological concepts found in Augustine's writing (Smither 2009, 184), which helps to enlighten the reader as to why the latter was such a prominent mentor. Other good examples that indicate the degree of influence that Augustine was able to exert upon others can be found within his monasteries, particularly the garden monastery at Hippo (Smither 2009, 145-148) when he was able to freely converse with his disciples, who were able to be mentored first hand through Augustine's actions and spoken words.