Letter 189: 1. I had already written a reply to your Charity, but while I was waiting for an opportunity of forwarding the letter, my beloved son Faustus arrived here on his way to your Excellency. After he had received the letter which I had intended to be carried by him to your Benevolence, he stated to me that you were very desirous that I should write y...

Augustine to Boniface, greetings. You have written to me about the military life, and whether a soldier can be a Christian — whether the violence inherent in your profession is compatible with the faith you profess. I take this question seriously, because you ask it seriously. The short answer is yes: a soldier can be a Christian. John the Baptist, when soldiers came to him and asked, "What should we do?", did not tell them to lay down their arms. He said: "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be content with your wages" [Luke 3:14]. He corrected their conduct without condemning their profession. War is an evil. Let us be clear about that. It is always an evil — even when it is a necessary evil. The suffering, the death, the destruction — none of this is good. But in a fallen world, where wicked men prey on the innocent, the refusal to resist evil by force is not virtue — it is abandonment of the weak. The Christian soldier fights not out of hatred but out of duty. He fights to protect the innocent, to punish the aggressor, to restore the peace that has been broken. He fights with sorrow, not with relish. And when the fighting is over, he does not glory in the slaughter but mourns the necessity that demanded it. Be a good soldier, Boniface. Be brave, be disciplined, be merciful even in battle. And when you return from the field, go to your knees. The same God who permitted you to draw the sword commands you to sheathe it as soon as justice allows. Farewell, brave brother.

Letter 189 (A.D. 418) To Boniface, My Noble Lord and Justly Distinguished and Honourable Son, Augustine Sends Greeting in the Lord. 1. I had already written a reply to your Charity, but while I was waiting for an opportunity of forwarding the letter, my beloved son Faustus arrived here on his way to your Excellency. After he had received the letter which I had intended to be carried by him to your Benevolence, he stated to me that you were very desirous that I should write you something which might build you up unto the eternal salvation of which you have hope in Christ Jesus our Lord. And, although I was busily occupied at the time, he insisted, with an earnestness corresponding to the love which, as you know, he bears to you, that I should do this without delay. To meet his convenience, therefore, as he was in haste to depart, I thought it better to write, though necessarily without much time for reflection, rather than put off the gratification of your pious desire, my noble lord and justly distinguished and honourable son. 2. All is contained in these brief sentences: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength: and love your neighbour as yourself; Matthew 22:37-40 for these are the words in which the Lord, when on earth, gave an epitome of religion, saying in the gospel, On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Daily advance, then, in this love, both by praying and by well-doing, that through the help of Him, who enjoined it on you, and whose gift it is, it may be nourished and increased, until, being perfected, it render you perfect. For this is the love which, as the apostle says, is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Romans 5:5 This is the fulfilling of the law; Romans 13:10 this is the same love by which faith works, of which he says again, Neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith, which works by love. Galatians 5:6 3. In this love, then, all our holy fathers, patriarchs, prophets, and apostles pleased God. In this all true martyrs contended against the devil even to the shedding of blood, and because in them it neither waxed cold nor failed, they became conquerors. In this all true believers daily make progress, seeking to acquire not an earthly kingdom, but the kingdom of heaven; not a temporal, but an eternal inheritance; not gold and silver, but the incorruptible riches of the angels; not the good things of this life, which are enjoyed with trembling, and which no one can take with him when he dies, but the vision of God, whose grace and power of imparting felicity transcend all beauty of form in bodies not only on earth but also in heaven, transcend all spiritual loveliness in men, however just and holy, transcend all the glory of the angels and powers of the world above, transcend not only all that language can express, but all that thought can imagine concerning Him. And let us not despair of the fulfilment of such a great promise because it is exceeding great, but rather believe that we shall receive it because He who has promised it is exceeding great, as the blessed Apostle John says: Now are we the sons of God; and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. John 3:2 4. Do not think that it is impossible for any one to please God while engaged in active military service. Among such persons was the holy David, to whom God gave so great a testimony; among them also were many righteous men of that time; among them was also that centurion who said to the Lord: I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed: for I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it; and concerning whom the Lord said: Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:8-10 Among them was that Cornelius to whom an angel said: Cornelius, your alms are accepted, and your prayers are heard, Acts 10:4 when he directed him to send to the blessed Apostle Peter, and to hear from him what he ought to do, to which apostle he sent a devout soldier, requesting him to come to him. Among them were also the soldiers who, when they had come to be baptized by John, — the sacred forerunner of the Lord, and the friend of the Bridegroom, of whom the Lord says: Among them that are born of women there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist, Matthew 11:11 — and had inquired of him what they should do, received the answer, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Luke 3:14 Certainly he did not prohibit them to serve as soldiers when he commanded them to be content with their pay for the service. 5. They occupy indeed a higher place before God who, abandoning all these secular employments, serve Him with the strictest chastity; but every one, as the apostle says, has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 1 Corinthians 7:7 Some, then, in praying for you, fight against your invisible enemies; you, in fighting for them, contend against the barbarians, their visible enemies. Would that one faith existed in all, for then there would be less weary struggling, and the devil with his angels would be more easily conquered; but since it is necessary in this life that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven should be subjected to temptations among erring and impious men, that they may be exercised, and tried as gold in the furnace, Wisdom 3:6 we ought not before the appointed time to desire to live with those alone who are holy and righteous, so that, by patience, we may deserve to receive this blessedness in its proper time. 6. Think, then, of this first of all, when you are arming for the battle, that even your bodily strength is a gift of God; for, considering this, you will not employ the gift of God against God. For, when faith is pledged, it is to be kept even with the enemy against whom the war is waged, how much more with the friend for whom the battle is fought! Peace should be the object of your desire; war should be waged only as a necessity, and waged only that God may by it deliver men from the necessity and preserve them in peace. For peace is not sought in order to the kindling of war, but war is waged in order that peace may be obtained. Therefore, even in waging war, cherish the spirit of a peacemaker, that, by conquering those whom you attack, you may lead them back to the advantages of peace; for our Lord says: Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 If, however, peace among men be so sweet as procuring temporal safety, how much sweeter is that peace with God which procures for men the eternal felicity of the angels! Let necessity, therefore, and not your will, slay the enemy who fights against you. As violence is used towards him who rebels and resists, so mercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared. 7. Let the manner of your life be adorned by chastity, sobriety, and moderation; for it is exceedingly disgraceful that lust should subdue him whom man finds invincible, and that wine should overpower him whom the sword assails in vain. As to worldly riches, if you do not possess them, let them not be sought after on earth by doing evil; and if you possess them, let them by good works be laid up in heaven. The manly and Christian spirit ought neither to be elated by the accession, nor crushed by the loss of this world's treasures. Let us rather think of what the Lord says: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also; Matthew 6:21 and certainly, when we hear the exhortation to lift up our hearts, it is our duty to give unfeignedly the response which you know that we are accustomed to give. 8. In these things, indeed, I know that you are very careful, and the good report which I hear of you fills me with great delight, and moves me to congratulate you on account of it in the Lord. This letter, therefore, may serve rather as a mirror in which you may see what you are, than as a directory from which to learn what you ought to be: nevertheless, whatever you may discover, either from this letter or from the Holy Scriptures, to be still wanting to you in regard to a holy life, persevere in urgently seeking it both by effort and by prayer; and for the things which you have, give thanks to God as the Fountain of goodness, whence you have received them; in every good action let the glory be given to God, and humility be exercised by you, for, as it is written, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. James 1:17 But however much you may advance in the love of God and of your neighbour, and in true piety, do not imagine, as long as you are in this life, that you are without sin, for concerning this we read in Holy Scripture: Is not the life of man upon earth a life of temptation? Wherefore, since always, as long as you are in this body, it is necessary for you to say in prayer, as the Lord taught us: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, Matthew 6:12 remember quickly to forgive, if any one shall do you wrong and shall ask pardon from you, that you may be able to pray sincerely, and may prevail in seeking pardon for your own sins. These things, my beloved friend, I have written to you in haste, as the anxiety of the bearer to depart urged me not to detain him; but I thank God that I have in some measure complied with your pious wish. May the mercy of God ever protect you, my noble lord and justly distinguished son.

EPISTOLA 189 Scripta ca. a. 417. A. Bonifacio duci (postea Africae comiti) vitae christianae rationem praescribit, quae in Dei dilectione continetur (nn. 1-3) ostendens licere christiano viro pro publica pace arma tractare, humanitate ac fide agenti (nn. 4-6), sed magis oportere vincere cupiditates (nn. 7-8). DOMINO EXIMIO, ET MERITO INSIGNI ATQUE HONORABILI FILIO BONIFACIO, AUGUSTINUS, IN DOMINO SALUTEM. Cur A. festinanter scribat ad amicum. 1. Iam rescripseram Caritati tuae, sed cum epistolae dirigendae occasio quaereretur, supervenit dilectissimus filius meus Faustus, pergens ad Eximietatem. tuam. Qui cum ipsas litteras quas iam feceram, accepisset tuae Benevolentiae perferendas, suggessit mihi multum te desiderare, ut aliquid tibi scriberem quod te aedificet ad sempiternam salutem, cuius tibi spes est in Domino nostro Iesu Christo. Et quamvis mihi occupato tantum institit, ut facere non differrem, quantum scis, quod te sinceriter diligat. Festinanti ergo ut occurrerem, malui festinanter aliquid scribere, quam religiosum tuum desiderium retardare, domine eximie, et merito insignis atque honorabilis fili. Breviarium christianae pietatis: fides caritate operans. 2. Quod ergo breviter possum dicere: Dilige Dominum Deum tuum in toto corde tuo, et in tota anima tua, et in tota virtute tua; et, dilige proximum tuum tamquam teipsum 1: hoc est enim verbum quod breviavit Dominus super terram, dicens in Evangelio: In his duobus praeceptis tota lex pendet et Prophetae 2. In hac ergo dilectione quotidie profice, et orando, et bene agendo, ut ipso adiuvante qui tibi eam praecepit atque donavit, nutriatur et crescat, donec haec te perfecta perficiat. Ipsa est enim caritas, quae, sicut Apostolus dicit, diffusa est in cordibus nostris per Spiritum sanctum qui datus est nobis 3; ipsa est de qua item dicit: Plenitudo legis caritas 4: ipsa est per quam fides operatur; unde iterum dicit: Neque circumcisio quidquam valet, neque praeputium; sed fides quae per dilectionem operatur 5. Fides virtutum et beatitudinis radix. 3. In hac ergo omnes sancti patres nostri et Patriarchae et Prophetae et Apostoli placuerunt Deo. In hac omnes veri martyres usque ad sanguinem contra diabolum certaverunt; et quia in eis non refriguit nec defecit 6, ideo vicerunt. In hac omnes fideles boni quotidie proficiunt, pervenire cupientes non ad regnum mortalium, sed ad regnum coelorum 7; non ad temporalem, sed ad sempiternam haereditatem 8; non ad aurum et argentum, sed ad divitias incorruptibiles Angelorum; non ad aliqua bona huius saeculi, in quibus cum timore vivatur, nec ea quisquam secum potest auferre dum moritur, sed ad videndum Deum 9: cuius suavitas et delectatio excedit omnem non solum terrestrium, verum etiam coelestium corporum pulchritudinem; excedit omnem decorem animarum quantumlibet iustarum atque sanctarum; excedit omnem speciem supernorum Angelorum atque Virtutum; excedit quidquid de illo non solum dicitur, verum etiam cogitatur. Neque hanc tam magnam promissionem, quia valde magna est, ideo desperemus, sed potius, quia valde magnus eam promisit, accepturos nos esse credamus: sicut enim dicit beatus Ioannes apostolus: Filii Dei sumus, et nondum apparuit quid erimus: scimus quia cum apparuerit, similes ei erimus, quoniam videbimus eum sicuti est 10. Posse Deo placere et arma tractantem. 4. Noli existimare neminem Deo placere posse, qui in armis bellicis militat. In his erat sanctus David, cui Dominus tam magnum perhibuit testimonium: in his etiam plurimi illius temporis iusti. In his erat et ille Centurio qui Domino dixit: Non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum; sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur puer meus. Nam et ego homo sum sub potestate constitutus, habens sub me milites, et dico huic, Vade, et vadit; et alii, Veni, et venit; et servo meo, Fac hoc, et facit: de quo et Dominus: Amen dico vobis, non inveni tantam fidem in Israel 11. In his erat et ille Cornelius ad quem missus angelus dixit: Corneli, acceptae sunt eleemosynae tuae, et exauditae sunt orationes tuae 12: ubi eum admonuit ut ad beatum Petrum apostolum mitteret, et ab illo audiret quae facere deberet; ad quem apostolum, ut ad eum veniret, etiam religiosum militem misit. In his erant et illi qui baptizandi cum venissent ad Ioannem 13, sanctum Domini praecursorem et amicum sponsi, de quo Dominus ipse ait: In natis mulierum non surrexit maior Ioanne Baptista 14, et quaesiissent ab eo quid facerent; respondit eis: Neminem concusseritis, nulli calumniam feceritis; sufficiat vobis stipendium vestrum 15. Non eos utique sub armis militare prohibuit; quibus suum stipendium sufficere debere praecepit. Quomodo pugnetur contra inimicos visibiles et invisibiles. 5. Maioris quidem loci sunt apud Deum, qui omnibus istis saecularibus actionibus derelictis, etiam summa continentia castitatis ei serviunt; Sed unusquisque, sicut Apostolus dicit, proprium donum habet a Deo; alius sic, alius autem sic 16. Alii ergo pro vobis orando pugnant contra invisibiles inimicos; vos pro eis pugnando laboratis contra visibiles barbaros. Utinam una fides esset in omnibus, quia et minus laboraretur, et facilius diabolus cum angelis suis vinceretur! Sed quia in hoc saeculo necesse est ut cives regni coelorum inter errantes et impios tentationibus agitentur, ut exerceantur, et tamquam in fornace sicut aurum probentur 17, non debemus ante tempus velle cum solis sanctis et iustis vivere, ut hoc suo tempore mereamur accipere. Bellum gerendum solum ut pax acquiratur. 6. Hoc ergo primum cogita, quando armaris ad pugnam, quia virtus tua etiam ipsa corporalis donum Dei est. Sic enim cogitabis de dono Dei non facere contra Deum. Fides enim quando promittitur, etiam hosti servanda est contra quem bellum geritur; quanto magis amico pro quo pugnatur! Pacem habere debet voluntas, bellum necessitas, ut liberet Deus a necessitate, et conservet in pace. Non enim pax quaeritur ut bellum excitetur, sed bellum geritur ut pax acquiratur. Esto ergo etiam bellando pacificus, ut eos quos expugnas, ad pacis utilitatem vincendo perducas: Beati enim pacifici, ait Dominus, quoniam ipsi filii Dei vocabuntur 18. Si autem pax humana tam dulcis est pro temporali salute mortalium, quanto est dulcior pax divina pro aeterna salute Angelorum! Itaque hostem pugnantem necessitas perimat, non voluntas. Sicut rebellanti et resistenti violentia redditur, ita victo vel capto misericordia iam debetur, maxime in quo pacis perturbatio non timetur. Turpe est, ut quem non vincunt homines, vincat libido. 7. Ornet mores tuos pudicitia coniugalis, ornet sobrietas et frugalitas: valde enim turpe est, ut quem non vincit homo, vincat libido; et obruatur vino, qui non vincitur ferro. Divitiae saeculares si desunt, non per mala opera quaerantur in mundo; si autem adsunt, per bona opera serventur in coelo. Animum virilem et christianum nec debent, si accedunt, extollere, nec debent frangere, si recedunt. Illud potius cogitemus quod Dominus ait: Ubi est thesaurus tuus, ibi erit et cor tuum 19; et utique cum audimus ut cor sursum habeamus, non mendaciter respondere debemus, quod nosti quia respondemus 20. Quomodo placandus Deus, peccatis iratus. 8. Et in his quidem bene studiosum te esse cognovi, et fama tua multum delector, multumque tibi in Domino gratulor, ita ut haec epistola magis tibi sit speculum ubi qualis sis videas, quam ubi discas qualis esse debeas: verumtamen quidquid sive in ista sive in Scripturis sanctis inveneris, quod tibi ad bonam vitam adhuc minus est, insta ut acquiras et agendo et orando; et ex iis quae habes gratias age Deo tamquam fonti bonitatis unde habes; atque in omnibus bonis actibus tuis illi da claritatem, tibi humilitatem. Sicut enim scriptum est: Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum 21. Quantumcumque autem in Dei et proximi caritate atque in vera pietate profeceris, quamdiu in hac vita conversaris, sine peccato te esse non credas: de ipsa quippe legitur in Litteris sanctis: Numquid non tentatio est vita humana super terram? 22 Proinde quoniam semper, quamdiu es in hoc corpore, necessarium est tibi in oratione dicere quod Dominus docuit: Dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris 23; memento cito ignoscere, si quis in te peccaverit, et a te veniam postulaverit, ut veraciter possis orare, et peccatis tuis veniam valeas impetrare. Haec Dilectioni quidem tuae festinanter scripsi, quoniam me festinatio perlatoris urgebat. Sed Deo gratias ago, quoniam bono desiderio tuo qualitercumque non defui. Semper te misericordia Dei protegat, domine eximie, et merito insignis atque honorabilis fili.