Ambrose Mong
We celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine of Hippo on August 28. A prolific writer, theologian, pastor and Church leader, he died on August 28, 430, at the age of 77. In his message for the feast of St. Augustine, Pope Leo XIV, a former Augustinian missionary in Peru, highlighted the importance of listening, service, and promoting unity. This message is important and relevant for Sino-Vatican relations.
Roman Catholicism was able to gain a strong hold in late imperial China due in part to the efforts of some Spanish Augustinian friars. The Spanish Augustinian Martin de Rada [1533 – 1578] went on an expedition to establish diplomatic and trade relations with the Wanli [萬 曆] emperor in 1575. De Rada was followed by other Augustinians, notably Álvaro de Benavente [1647–1709] and Juan Nicolás de Rivera [1642–1711], who promoted a policy of accommodating Augustine’s teaching for Chinese Catholics. The Spanish Augustinians were active in Zhaoqing, Nanxiong [南雄], and some other districts in Guangdong province.
The Italian Jesuits Michele Ruggieri [1543-1607] and Matteo Ricci [1552 -1610] used Augustine’s teachings to catechise the Chinese. Augustine’s conversion experience and his refutation of Manichaeism provided a framework to oppose heresies and paganism with which the Chinese were familiar. In fact, it provided a source for Matteo Ricci to convince the Chinese to abandon their superstitious beliefs.
The first translation of Augustine’s biography, Confessions, was written by the Italian Jesuit, Alphonse Vagnoni at Jiangzhou in 1629. This Chinese biography of Augustine was widely distributed in the Hangzhou region. But it was Vagnoni’s volume, Vita Sanctorum [天主聖教聖人行實], paraphrased by a Christian and Confucian scholar, Li Jiugong [李九功], entitled, Reflection of Spiritual Exercise [勵修一鑒], that helped to spread Christianity in the Zhejiang and Fujian areas.
The Italian Jesuits Michele Ruggieri [1543-1607] and Matteo Ricci [1552 -1610] used Augustine’s teachings to catechise the Chinese. Augustine’s conversion experience and his refutation of Manichaeism provided a framework to oppose heresies and paganism with which the Chinese were familiar
As Augustine’s ideas gained traction, his translated biographies and literary works convinced many Chinese literati that their belief was in harmony with Christianity; Confucianism and Christianity complement each other. Through the preachings of the missionaries, Augustine’s life and thoughts inspired many Confucians to embrace Christianity. Impressed by Augustine’s conversion, Zhang Xingyao [張星曜] who was baptised in 1678, wrote a poem entitled “Song for Saint Augustine”:
A saint in Libya, good at the art of rhetoric;
He travelled in Rome in early years, pursuing lofty ideals.
Moaning and groaning, he endeavoured for peace of mind;
A divine voice coming from Heaven, the Holy Bible being by his side.
Controlling passions, he attempted to renew secular desires and cultivate virtues;
Helping out the poor, he was generous without sparing any effort.
Prolific in apologetic writings, the Tao reveals itself;
After serving as the bishop for thirty years, he enjoyed eternal freedom in Heaven.
Today, the teaching of Augustine can become a bridge in Sino-Vatican relations. In fact, the Chinese government, through the China Scholarship Council, has provided funding to Chinese students and scholars in their research on Augustinian studies. Catholic studies, including Augustinian theology, has emerged as a specialised field at Chinese universities. It is a promising start for future endeavours in promoting Catholicism in China through scholarship and academic exchanges.
This Chinese biography of Augustine was widely distributed in the Hangzhou region. But it was Vagnoni’s volume, Vita Sanctorum [天主聖教聖人行實], paraphrased by a Christian and Confucian scholar, Li Jiugong [李九功], entitled, Reflection of Spiritual Exercise [勵修一鑒], that helped to spread Christianity in the Zhejiang and Fujian areas
As the most authoritative and influential Church Father, Augustine was selected as a model to emulate for the Chinese people.
Augustine’s conversion had a profound impact on the Chinese Christians. Besides acting as a bridge for Sino-Western encounters, Augustinian thought can form the basis for dialogue with other faiths such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Augustinian thought could serve not only as a bridge between Chinese cultural spirituality and Christianity, but also as a platform for interreligious dialogue in a pluralistic China.
