Source edition
Augustine. Sancti Aureli Augustini Opera, Sectio VII, Pars III (Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Volume 53). Petschenig, Michael, editor. Prague; Vienna; Leipzig: F. Tempsky; G. Freytag, 1910.
Source data
Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This sermon, delivered by Augustine in the church of Caesarea, addresses the overcoming of the Donatist schism and calls for the unity of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the contradictory statement of the Donatist bishop Emeritus and the reaction of the congregation, Augustine clarifies the attitude of generous love that the Catholic Church must adopt. He acknowledges that the schismatics retain the "divine sacrament" or the character of baptism, yet warns that this mark brings no salvation as long as they lack the "love" that maintains church unity. Illustrating his point through the inheritance of Abraham's sons and the invalidity of schismatic martyrdom, he further points out the historical self-contradictions and violence of the Donatists. Ultimately, he demonstrates that the Catholic efforts to bring back these lost brothers are motivated not by coercion, but by love aimed at the salvation of their souls.