Saint Augustine responds
Cuando el agustinólogo Luc Verheijen profundiza el tema de la Regla, hace una comparación con Pitágoras, aduciendo que, en el momento de escribir su Regla, probablemente Agustín tuvo muy en cuenta el pensamiento de este matemático y filósofo griego. Dentro de lo que se ha escrito hasta el momento, ¿alguien ha continuado esta investigación? ¿Hay más escritos al respecto? ¿Los conceptos de orden, armonía, belleza, que también están presentes en otras obras del Santo, proceden de una lectura pitagórica?
Answer... Enrique A. Eguiarte B.
Enrique A. Eguiarte B. (1960) is an Augustinian Recollect who holds a licentiate in Latin American Literature (1991) and Modern Languages (1996) from the Ibero-American University of Mexico City. He earned his doctoral degree in Letters and Philosophy from the University of Navarra, Spain, in 1999 and his doctorate in Theology and Patristics from the Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum (2010) of…
Estimado Manuel:
Gracias por tu pregunta. San Agustín es uno de los Padres de la Iglesia que consideraba la filosofía y la cultura pagana como el “oro de Egipto” con el que el pueblo de Israel había salido cargado del país de cautiverio (Cf. Ex 12, 35; doctr. chr. 2, 60). Por ello san Agustín no tiene problema, como sucede con otros Padres de la Iglesia, en usar lo mejor o lo que pueda rescatarse del pensamiento de estos autores paganos, una vez que este pensamiento ha sido “bautizado”, es decir interpretado y usado en un contexto cristiano. Por ello L. Verheijen en su célebre estudio sobre la Regla señala que san Agustín al momento de escribir su Regla se inspira, entre otras fuentes, en algunas ideas de Pitágoras. De hecho Pitágoras es mencionado muchas veces en la obra agustiniana (haer. 1, 7; ciu. 7, 35; ciu. 8, 9; ciu. 18, 37; en. Ps. 140, 19; ep. 137, 12; s. 241, 6; s. Dolbeau 26, 59, y otras más). La recurrencia más frecuente es cuando san Agustín nos narra la conocida anécdota en la que Pitágoras no quiso ser llamado ‘sabio’, sino ‘amigo de la sabiduría’, es decir ‘filósofo’ (Cf. trin. 14, 2; ciu. 8, 2; ciu. 18, 25; c. Iul. imp. 5, 1). No obstante aunque san Agustín muestra su entusiasmo por las ideas pitagóricas en el De ordine (ord. 2, 53-2,54), posteriormente corregirá sus excesos en las Retractationes diciendo: “Tampoco me agrada ‘el que alabé tan exageradamente al filósofo Pitágoras’, que quien lo oiga o lea puede pensar que yo estaba creído que no había ningún error en la doctrina de Pitágoras, habiendo muchos, y éstos capitales” (retr. 1, 3, 3).
Por otro lado las ideas de orden, armonía y belleza en las obras agustinanas provienen de la formación filosófica de san Agustín, en donde Pitágoras ocupa un lugar importante, junto con Platón, Plotino y otros pensadores más. También hay que señalar que son pocos los estudios que existen sobre la relación entre san Agustín y Pitágoras. Está el breve comentario clásico de R. Jolivet (“Saint Augustin et Pythagore”, en Bibliothèque augustinienne. Oeuvres de saint Augustin 4 [1948], 466.) En los últimos años se han publicado dos artículos interesantes al respecto: Frend, William H.C., “Pitagorismo y hermetismo en los años ocultos de Agustín”, en Avgvstinvs 36 (1991) 107-118; Bertacchini, Roberto A.M. , “Scienza e sapienza in S. Agostino: rilettura dell'Ipponense in chiave pitagórica”, en Sapienza 49 (1996) 299-320.
Como puedes ver, es un tema interesante que puede ser ampliamente estudiado y del cual podrás encontrar mucho material en la obra agustiniana.
This concern is in relation to the text in the Rule of St. Augustine found in the revised Constitutions of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. In Chapter VIII where Augustine says, “as lovers of spiritual beauty”, the biblical citation that appears is that of Si 44, 6. I failed however to find said citation in the different Spanish translations that I consulted. And the same citation appears in Latintext. I wish to know which versión of the Bible is used and why? Gratefully yours, Fray Héctor To read the response to this question
In the websites of various Augustinian schools in different parts of the world, and as a form of advertisement, you find the phrase: “In the Augustinian school others are taught because of love and by love truth is learned”. “Quaest. In Dul. 2, 6” has been used as reference. I found the work, I believe, but such phrase is not found in the said reference. My question is: Can you tell me if the quotation is correct? Is it of St. Augustine? And is it adequately applied to the schools? Thanks. To read the response to this question
In the websites of various Augustinian schools in different parts of the world, and as a form of advertisement, you find the phrase: “In the Augustinian school others are taught because of love and by love truth is learned”. “Quaest. In Dul. 2, 6” has been used as reference. I found the work, I believe, but such phrase is not found in the said reference. My question is: Can you tell me if the quotation is correct? Is it of St. Augustine? And is it adequately applied to the schools? Thanks. Wilson Ferreira To read the response to this question
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I am without words every time I am with a beloved who suffers an incurable and painful infirmity. How would Augustine explain the pain suffered by many persons? Where is God in pain? To read the response to this question
A phrase attributed to St. Augustine states that women should not be, in any way, enlightened nor educated. In fact they should be segregated. Is this from Augustine? Thank you for your attention. God bless you. To read the response to this question
Good evening, with confidence I write to ask for assistance in my study of St. Augustine, a study that I'd like to do personally and on my own. Particularly I need your help to orient me to the order of reading the works of St. Augustine: where to start, from the doctrinal and theological themes or from the philosophical works? (I am aware that the themes are intermixed in St. Augustine). I did some initial readings on his works, but without the order according to my interest. Now I would like to do it in a serious, formal and orderly manner. If this is of help. I would also like to inform… To read the response to this question
I wish to include in a book the following words of St. Augustine: "They are called 'saints' not because they have become holy, but rather, they have become holy precisely because they have been called." I found this text many times in the Internet, but without the reference. I would be grateful if you can provide me the source. A thousand thanks, Jack Matlick To read the response to this question
Which works of Augustine speak of the value of silence and prudence? Sergio Robayo To read the response to this question