<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This paper studies Guardini’s perception of Augustine, especially in his two widely unknown books on Confessions: Die Bekehrung des heiligen Aurelius Augustinus (1935), and Anfang (1944), which are contrasted by the recently published Guardini lectures: Ewigkeit und Geschichte (1955/56 and 1961/62). The author discusses Guardini’s emphasis and fascination with Augustine’s conversion (cf. Conf. VIII), as it was relevant for his existential theology. Additionally, the text explores the Augustinian perception of the phenomenon of conversion by studying the passage from In evangelium Ioannis tractatus 53 (John 12:40), where Augustine delivers a beautiful synthesis about the conversion of the heart through grace: “Conversio gratia est” (Aug., In Io. tr. 53.11). It is hoped this study will evaluate Guardini’s doctrine about the conversion of the heart using the concrete example of Augustine and also replenish and enrich his interpretation by contrasting it to the broader Augustinian corpus.</p>
</abstract>

This paper studies Guardini’s perception of Augustine, especially in his two widely unknown books on Confessions: Die Bekehrung des heiligen Aurelius Augustinus (1935), and Anfang (1944), which are contrasted by the recently published Guardini lectures: Ewigkeit und Geschichte (1955/56 and 1961/62). The author discusses Guardini’s emphasis and fascination with Augustine’s conversion (cf. Conf. VIII), as it was relevant for his existential theology. Additionally, the text explores the Augustinian perception of the phenomenon of conversion by studying the passage from In evangelium Ioannis tractatus 53 (John 12:40), where Augustine delivers a beautiful synthesis about the conversion of the heart through grace: “Conversio gratia est” (Aug., In Io. tr. 53.11). It is hoped this study will evaluate Guardini’s doctrine about the conversion of the heart using the concrete example of Augustine and also replenish and enrich his interpretation by contrasting it to the broader Augustinian corpus.

Conversion as Transformation of the Heart: Guardini’s Existential Interpretation of Augustine’s <italic>Confessions</italic>

Research Assistant, Faculty of Theology, University of Ljubljana

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Conversion as Transformation of the Heart: Guardini’s Existential Interpretation of Augustine’s 

This paper studies Guardini’s perception of Augustine, especially in his two widely unknown books on Confessions: Die Bekehrung des heiligen Aurelius...

Conversion as Transformation of the Heart: Guardini’s Existential Interpretation of Augustine’s Confessions

Published Online: May 29, 2021

Page range: 58 - 74

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2021-0006

Keywords
Guardini, Augustine, conversion, heart, existence, grace

© 2021 Jan Dominik Bogataj OFM, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Conversion as Transformation of the Heart: Guardini’s Existential Interpretation of Augustine’s Confessions

Published Online: May 29, 2021

Page range: 58 - 74

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2021-0006

KeywordsGuardini, Augustine, conversion, heart, existence, grace

© 2021 Jan Dominik Bogataj OFM, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Guardini, Augustine, conversion, heart, existence, grace