Confessions Book IX

3. How does Augustine use the death of his mother to illustrate his own spiritual life at this point in his life?

       Augustine uses the death of Monica to illustrate his own spiritual life because his reaction can be compared to his reaction with his friend died at Thagaste. When his friend died at Thagaste, he marinated in his grief, and did not want to come out of it. He wanted to brew over the death of his friend and not get over it. However, now with the death of his mother (which should impact him more deeply, as she is his mother), he seems more at peace, and he could even look at it in a positive light, and see all the good that would come from it. He writes, "But my thoughts were upon the gifts you implant in the hearts of your faithful, O invisible God." This shows the level of spiritual maturity Augustine has in that he does not stew in grief over his mother, but can see the good side to it, and see how God works through it.