St. Augustine

My father was a pagan who converted on his death bed; my mom was Saint Monica, a devout Christian. I was trained in Christianity, I lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. I lived with a Carthaginian woman from the age of 15 through 30.I fathered a son whom I named Adeotadus, which means the gift of God. I taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan. After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies,I became a Manichaean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. A summation of my thinking at the time comes from my Confessions: "God, give me chastity and continence - but not just now." I finally broke with the Manichaeans and was converted by the prayers of my mom and the help of Saint Ambrose of Milan, who baptized me. On the death of my mom, I returned to Africa, sold my property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. Monk. Priest. Preacher. Bishop of Hippo in 396. Founded religious communities. Fought Manichaeism, Donatism, Pelagianism and other heresies. Oversaw my church and my see during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals. Doctor of the Church. His later thinking can also be summed up in a line from my writings: Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.