Source edition
Augustine. Sancti Aureli Augustini Opera, Sectio V, Pars III (Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Volume 41). Zycha, Joseph, editor. Prague; Vienna; Leipzig: F. Tempsky; G. Freytag, 1900.
Source data
Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This theological work is written in response to a query from Paulinus of Nola, wherein Augustine addresses whether being buried near the memorials of saints and martyrs benefits the deceased, as well as the significance of praying for the dead. The author argues that while the physical body is an essential part of human nature and burial is a meaningful act of affection by the living, the lack of a proper burial or the destruction of the body cannot hinder a Christian's resurrection or eternal happiness. He analyzes phenomena such as the deceased appearing in dreams or visions to request burial, concluding that these are not the actions of the deceased's actual souls, but rather angelic activities or projections of likenesses guided by divine providence. Furthermore, he asserts that the dead generally do not perceive or intervene in the affairs of the living. Ultimately, Augustine summarizes that the true value of prayers, alms, and burials for the deceased lies in how they harmonize with the merits the individual acquired during their earthly life.