St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround has been an inspiration to many who struggle with habits or vices they long to break.

This famous son of St. Monica was born in 354 AD in Thagaste, a Roman-Berber city in the province of Numidia (present-day Souk Ahras, Algeria). At that time, Numidia’s capital was Cirta (now Constantine in Algeria), distinct from the neighboring Roman province of Africa, whose capital was Carthage in modern Tunisia. Augustine grew up in a Christian household, but as a young man he drifted into sin and false beliefs. His sins of impurity and pride darkened his mind so much that he could not see the Divine Truth, despite his brilliance.

Through the prayers of his holy mother and the preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine came to see that Christianity was the one true faith. Still, he hesitated, thinking he could never live a pure life. One day he heard the story of two men suddenly converted after reading the life of St. Antony of the Desert. Deeply ashamed, he cried out to his friend Alipius:

"What are we doing? Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, remain bound in the mud of our sins!"

Full of sorrow, Augustine rushed into a garden and begged God for help. Suddenly he heard the voice of a child singing, "Take up and read!" Believing these words were from God, he opened the Letters of St. Paul and read the first passage he saw—a call to abandon impurity and live in imitation of Christ. That moment changed his life forever.

Augustine was baptized, became a priest, and then Bishop of Hippo Regius (modern Annaba, Algeria). He spent the rest of his life serving the Church as a preacher, defender of the faith, and one of the greatest Catholic writers in history. He founded a religious community, supported the poor, practiced great humility, and fought against powerful heresies. On the wall of his room he had written in large letters:

"Here we do not speak evil of anyone."

When the Vandals laid siege to Hippo in 430, Augustine was on his deathbed, praying and entrusting his flock to God. His feast day is celebrated on August 28th.