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Sermons to the People: Advent, Christmas, New Year's, Epiphany
A superb new translation brings the words of Augustine the preacher stirringly to life!
When the great Saint Augustine was called from his country home to become Bishop of Hippo in the fourth century, his new responsibilities took him away from the solitude of his writing and into the glare of the public eye. The author of two of the greatest works of religious literature, Confessions and City of God , Augustine became a shepherd to the people, inspiring and enlightening them with his sermons. His skills as a speaker were as great–if not greater–than his skills as a writer. According to his friend Possidius, “Those who read what Augustine wrote on the divine topics do get something out of them. But those who saw and heard him in person–they were the ones who got heaven and Earth.”
Sermons to the People collects the homilies on the liturgical seasons of the Church Saint Augustine delivered over the course of his lifetime. This Image edition includes the first sermons in that vast from Advent, Christmas, New Year’s, and the Epiphany. Newly translated by William Griffin, they address timeless concerns, including the problems of materialism and the intellectual difficulties of faith. Griffin renders the sermons with such immediacy, it is as though he had been present when Augustine spoke to his flock.
When the great Saint Augustine was called from his country home to become Bishop of Hippo in the fourth century, his new responsibilities took him away from the solitude of his writing and into the glare of the public eye. The author of two of the greatest works of religious literature, Confessions and City of God , Augustine became a shepherd to the people, inspiring and enlightening them with his sermons. His skills as a speaker were as great–if not greater–than his skills as a writer. According to his friend Possidius, “Those who read what Augustine wrote on the divine topics do get something out of them. But those who saw and heard him in person–they were the ones who got heaven and Earth.”
Sermons to the People collects the homilies on the liturgical seasons of the Church Saint Augustine delivered over the course of his lifetime. This Image edition includes the first sermons in that vast from Advent, Christmas, New Year’s, and the Epiphany. Newly translated by William Griffin, they address timeless concerns, including the problems of materialism and the intellectual difficulties of faith. Griffin renders the sermons with such immediacy, it is as though he had been present when Augustine spoke to his flock.
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
18 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Augustine of Hippo
3,313 books2,052 followersEarly church father and philosopher Saint Augustine served from 396 as the bishop of Hippo in present-day Algeria and through such writings as the autobiographical
Confessions
in 397 and the voluminous
City of God
from 413 to 426 profoundly influenced Christianity, argued against Manichaeism and Donatism, and helped to establish the doctrine of original sin.
An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.
People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."
The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."
Santo Agostinho
An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.
People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."
The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."
Santo Agostinho
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 31, 2018
I like the point that the translator makes in his introduction that Augustine's sermons were less deep, more direct, and definitely more conversational than standard translations might make them seem. He was talking directly to the average Joe, after all, and that meant finding common ground for everyone to be able to grasp the big ideas of Scripture and Jesus. The sample sold me.
FINAL: I'd give it a 3-1/2 really. Fascinating to see the homilies while imagining the delivery style of someone who everyone said took it to the next level when hearing him speak and I liked the dynamic translations.
FINAL: I'd give it a 3-1/2 really. Fascinating to see the homilies while imagining the delivery style of someone who everyone said took it to the next level when hearing him speak and I liked the dynamic translations.
December 24, 2025
* problem is the translation, not Augustine *
I hesitate to give such a low rating, but I honestly feel that this book does not deserve more.
This is a modern, colloquial translation of Augustine's Christmas sermons (along with some others).
Having purchased another, more traditional version of the sermons I can confirm that the sermons themselves are mostly wonderful. They are full of great rhetoric, word play and a call to praise God for the birth of Christ. They have their quirks - Augustine's belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary comes through strongly, as does his belief that sex within marriage for any purpose other than children is sinful. And many of the same ideas are repeated through the sermons. But these factors don't detract too much from the overall joyful, poetic descriptions of the incarnation.
This translation, however, is just dreadful. William Griffin, in the introduction to the book, ably defends his particular translation philosophy. The problem is just that the results are appalling. The translation is colloquial to the point of comedy, consistently detracts from what is actually being said, and, for me at least, achieves nothing positive in the process.
Phrases that made me actively cringe, and that seem miles away from anything Augustine would actually say, such as 'God dolled himself up in humanity' abound.
The worst part is that Griffin saw fit to retranslate the bible verses which Augustine quotes in these sermons too.
One example of how this plays out is that in the midst of a section where Augustine is defending the fact that the divine Son did not lose what he was in the incarnation, but instead assumed what he was not, we have a translation of philippians 2:6 that says the Son 'dumped his divinity'. This is not only a poor translation, but actively goes against what Augustine (and more importantly Scripture) is saying.
Other verses are almost unrecognisable but for the fact we are told what they are in brackets.
I abandoned this book thoroughly frustrated.
Buy a traditional translation of these sermons and marvel at the birth of Christ, but do not buy this book.
I hesitate to give such a low rating, but I honestly feel that this book does not deserve more.
This is a modern, colloquial translation of Augustine's Christmas sermons (along with some others).
Having purchased another, more traditional version of the sermons I can confirm that the sermons themselves are mostly wonderful. They are full of great rhetoric, word play and a call to praise God for the birth of Christ. They have their quirks - Augustine's belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary comes through strongly, as does his belief that sex within marriage for any purpose other than children is sinful. And many of the same ideas are repeated through the sermons. But these factors don't detract too much from the overall joyful, poetic descriptions of the incarnation.
This translation, however, is just dreadful. William Griffin, in the introduction to the book, ably defends his particular translation philosophy. The problem is just that the results are appalling. The translation is colloquial to the point of comedy, consistently detracts from what is actually being said, and, for me at least, achieves nothing positive in the process.
Phrases that made me actively cringe, and that seem miles away from anything Augustine would actually say, such as 'God dolled himself up in humanity' abound.
The worst part is that Griffin saw fit to retranslate the bible verses which Augustine quotes in these sermons too.
One example of how this plays out is that in the midst of a section where Augustine is defending the fact that the divine Son did not lose what he was in the incarnation, but instead assumed what he was not, we have a translation of philippians 2:6 that says the Son 'dumped his divinity'. This is not only a poor translation, but actively goes against what Augustine (and more importantly Scripture) is saying.
Other verses are almost unrecognisable but for the fact we are told what they are in brackets.
I abandoned this book thoroughly frustrated.
Buy a traditional translation of these sermons and marvel at the birth of Christ, but do not buy this book.
February 3, 2026
I confess - I like Augustine. I always have. Even when his severity makes him hard to like.
This book of sermons is very different to the severe theologian or the imposing philosopher. Even where I disagree I would melt before his rebuttal. Perhaps it is the translation. It’s very folksy. Has a bit o’ Twain about. Turns him into a southern Baptist preacher on a Sunday evening. The ties still there but the collars unbuttoned. Some nights his sleeves all rolled up.
Some of the sermons are more interesting than others. In that way, and in the way he creates rhymes and rhythms, combines and creates words, turns phrases and words to puns intended, like Christ turning water into wine - in those ways he is not the austere theologian or the colossus of philosophy. In those ways he is the preacher. The Southern Baptist preacher who rolls up his sleeves now and then. Who cracks a joke now and then. Subtly funny. A thought. A change of direction. A story. A symbol. Analogy. Analysis. Then back, always back, to the truth in Scripture. Citing Scripture. Completing the circle. Pun intended.
Is that foolish enough, I wonder?
This book of sermons is very different to the severe theologian or the imposing philosopher. Even where I disagree I would melt before his rebuttal. Perhaps it is the translation. It’s very folksy. Has a bit o’ Twain about. Turns him into a southern Baptist preacher on a Sunday evening. The ties still there but the collars unbuttoned. Some nights his sleeves all rolled up.
Some of the sermons are more interesting than others. In that way, and in the way he creates rhymes and rhythms, combines and creates words, turns phrases and words to puns intended, like Christ turning water into wine - in those ways he is not the austere theologian or the colossus of philosophy. In those ways he is the preacher. The Southern Baptist preacher who rolls up his sleeves now and then. Who cracks a joke now and then. Subtly funny. A thought. A change of direction. A story. A symbol. Analogy. Analysis. Then back, always back, to the truth in Scripture. Citing Scripture. Completing the circle. Pun intended.
Is that foolish enough, I wonder?
December 29, 2019
These sermons are not particularly long (except the first), but they do provide a great introduction to Augustine’s theology and preaching. Before becoming a Christian, Augustine was a master orator and taught oratory. In his books, we get a deep look into his thinking, but the sermons show us how Augustine brought those thoughts to everyday people. These sermons were enjoyable to read, and are certainly a different take on Christmas from what most people hear today, but they are enlightening for how Christians viewed Christmas in Augustine’s day. With so many short sermons, it’s not surprising that they are somewhat repetitive, but they are also a wonderful devotional look at Jesus.
February 19, 2017
A sometimes jarring translation.
September 6, 2025
The translation of Augustine's sermons for Advent through Epiphany is enjoyable. He uses lots of anachronisms, such as when he translates about the people who would heckle him during a sermon he refers to them as Heckle and Jeckle. The translator brings to Augustine's sermons to life and gives us the sense of the wit and wisdom of the saint. He uses equivalency in his translation rather than a more exact, scholarly translation of the sermons. The author provides an introduction in which he shows a scholarly translation of a short section from the sermon, and his equivalency translation after, to show the difference. He brings the sense of the street Latin Augustine used in his sermons for an enjoyably written translation.
I wish there was a book with the two types of translation, side by side for the few who would enjoy it.
I wish there was a book with the two types of translation, side by side for the few who would enjoy it.
April 5, 2012
Great collection of St. Augustine's sermons which are organized around four main Christian holidays. Dont let the fact that the author is St. Augustine scare you off - this is not the City of God depth of writing. These were sermons that he delivered to common people and were intended not to illustrate his depth of thought but to simply communicate the Gospel. He proves to not only be a brilliant philosopher but even more impressive, able to communicate clearly with people who were not on his level of education. He was a brilliant communicator! This are great to read for anyone interested in Church History and is actually quite fun to read. Worth the read.
March 11, 2009
Who says those old guys are boring? This is a delightful and fresh translation of some of Augustine's best sermons, and it really brings them to life. Augustine just had such a brilliant mind, that's all there is to it.
December 14, 2020
2020: It is always a blessing to read Augustine. However, it was sad to read in this one that he believes in the eternal virginity of Mary.
I did not know that. Other than that, it has so many good things.
I did not know that. Other than that, it has so many good things.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews