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CHRISTIANITY AND CITIZENSHIP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Augustine
Edited by
E. M. Atkins  and
R. J. Dodaro
E. M. Atkins
Affiliation:
Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds
R. J. Dodaro
Affiliation:
Instituto Patristico 'Augustinianum', Rome
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Summary

Letters 90, 91, 103 and 104

The following exchange of letters between Augustine and Nectarius is concerned with a riot which took place during illegal pagan celebrations in Calama, Nectarius' home-town, not far from Hippo. Nectarius urges Augustine to intervene to protect his fellow-pagans from legal penalties.

Letter 90

Nectarius to his notable lord and deservedly welcome brother, the bishop Augustine.

I need not describe the power of patriotic love, for you know it already: it alone could justly take precedence over affection for our parents. If a good man's service of his home-town had any limit or terminus, then by now I might deserve to excuse myself worthily from my duties to her. On the contrary, though, one's affection and gratitude for one's city grows as each day passes; and the nearer life approaches to its end, the more one desires to leave one's country flourishing and secure. That is why I am delighted before all else to be conducting this discussion with a man who is thoroughly well educated.

There are many things about the colony of Calama which deservedly win my affection: I was born there, and I have – it seems – discharged public duties of some significance on its behalf. Now, my most excellent and deservedly welcome lord, the colony has lapsed through the serious misbehaviour of her populace.

Type
Chapter
Information
Augustine: Political Writings , pp. 1 - 60
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2001

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