Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation is to discover, from Augustine's own words, as expressed in his letters, as much as may he learned from direct statements about his views on the subjects of monasticism and the monastic life. It is hoped that a thorough investigation of all Augustine’s correspondence (more than two hundred and fifty letters) disclose some positive and definite statements dealing with the subjects in question. |The writer proposes therefore to investigate the complete correspondence, and to select such sentences, ideas and expressions as possess a definite bearing upon Augustine's view, or that may be considered to express accurately his true and fixed thoughts upon the topics being examined. |This material, selected, and classified into groups, according to the subject matter with which it deals, should constitute a useful body of evidence both for the interpretation of Augustine's mind and for an explanation of the efforts that he is known to have made toward furthering monasticism in Africa. |References to Augustine are entirely to Letters,and will be made therefore by the Letter number in the Migne Edition, which is the Edition employed, and where necessary, paragraph numbers are added: for example. Letter 76, or 120.2. Various other works referred to by names of the authors will be found in the bibliography. |If sufficient material is discovered and the proof and statement appear positive, it may be possible, finally,to draw certain definite and permanent conclusions about Augustine and monasticism, which can be subsequently employed in the course of further investigation in the Saint's writings. This the present writer, hopes will be the result.