The Augustinian Endowed Chair
in the
Thought of Augustine

Villanova University

Established by the Augustinians of the
Province of Saint
Thomas of Villanova in 1994

The Augustinian Chair in Thought of Augustine was established by the Augustinians of the Province of St Thomas of Villanova in 1994 to celebrate and strengthen the continuing influence of St. Augustine on their ministry of higher education.

From its founding in 1244, the Augustinian Order, like the other Mendicant Orders, the Dominicans (1216), the Franciscans (1223), and later the Carmelites (1247), was devoted to study and to teaching. Toward the end of the fourteenth century, the emphasis that Augustinian scholars placed on Augustine's thought in the study of theology developed into a system of studies that came to be called the Augustinian School. Augustinians such as Giles of Rome (d. 1316), James of Viterbo (d. 1308), Thomas of Strasbourg (d. 1357), and Gregory 0f Rimini (d. 1358), distinguished themselves in the history of medieval scholasticism by invoking the authority of Augustine in their view of theology as an affective science whose purpose was the love of God.

The tradition of scholarship was continued by other Augustinians, who taught at Europe's most notable university centers, including Oxford University and the University of Paris. Hugolin of Orvieto (d. 1373) and Bonaventure of Peraga (d. 1386) were among the founders of the theology faculty at Bologna. Nicholas of Neuss and Cyso of Cologne established the theology faculty at Cologne in 1389, while Nicholas von Laun (d. 1371) was a founding professor at the Charles University in Prague. The works of Johannes Hiltaligen of Basil (d. 1392) have been described as a concise dictionary of fourteenth century theology, while the Milleloquium Sancti Augustini of Bartholomew of Urbino (d. 1350) contributed significantly to the development of the doctrine of the Augustinian School.

In the sixteenth century, Giles of Viterbo (d. 1532), poet, Hebrew philologist, philosopher and theologian, Jerome Seripando (d. 1563), prior general, theologian, and later Cardinal legate to the Council of Trent, and Fray de Leon (d. 1591), who held the chair of theology and scripture at Salamanca and one of the most famous literary figures of the Spanish Golden Age, were among a long list of teachers and scholars who distinguished themselves in theology, literature and history.

Famous libraries, such as that of the former Augustinian monastery in Paris (Grand-Augustins) were essential to the study of Augustine. That library contained no less than 55 of Augustine's major writings, many of which can still be traced in various Paris libraries. Evidence of similar collections is to be found in the library catalogs of the Augustinian houses of study in Siena and Padua and in the Angelica Library at St. Augustine's Rome.

As the 21^st century approaches, Augustinian scholarship continues in such publications as the Augusinianum (Rome), the Augusinus-Lexikon (Wurzburg) and the Etudes Augustinennes (Paris). Centers of scholarship are the Institutum Patristicum in Rome and the recently established Center for the Study of St. Augustine at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. The Washington Theological Institute, which is supported by the Augustinians and other religious orders, is in the process of developing courses on the thought and spirituality of St. Augustine.

Villanova University is an integral part of this tradition of Augustinian scholarship. Its campus hosts the Augustinian Historical Institute, Augustinian Studies, the annual St. Augustine Lecture, and benefits from the work of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova's Augustinian Press, which has translated, edited and published numerous works on St. Augustine and the Augustinian tradition. The promotion of the study of St. Augustine is further manifested by the University on the curriculum and the offering of seminars, all of which are important to the ongoing investigation of the Augustinian intellectual tradition.

It is in this tradition that the Augustinian Chair in the Thought of Augustine manifests the Augustinian Order's dedication to interdisciplinary Augustinian scholarship and its commitment to the sponsorship of Villanova University. The Augustinians of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova are privileged to present this Chair which honors the legacy of St. Augustine, the great theologian, teacher and preacher of the Word, who inspires both the Order which takes him name and Villanova University.

Click Here For Article in Villanova Magazine

Roland J. Teske, Ph.D, S.J.
2001

The Rev. Roland J. Teske, S.J., professor of philosophy at Marquette University, has been named the third holder of the Augustinian Chair in the Thought of St. Augustine for the fall semester. Father Teske will teach two courses, one graduate and the other undergraduate Honors.

The graduate course, "Grace, Free Will, and Salvation in Augustine," will examine the evolution of the thought of St. Augustine of Hippo on salvation, free will, and grace from his youth through his conversions to Manicheism and to Neoplatonic Christianity and to his third conversion in 396 to his mature understanding of the grace of God. The course will continue to look at his understanding of salvation and grace in relation to freedom in his later controversy with Pelagius, with the monks of Africa and Provence, and with Julian of Eclanum, all of whom held quite different views of the roles of freedom and grace.

The undergraduate Honors course, "Christianity: Traditions and Transitions," will be an introduction to the life and thought of Augustine, through his Confessions and other works. These include his writings regarding his association with the Manichees, as well as his conflicts with the Donatists and Pelagians.

Father Teske received a bachelor of arts, a licentiate on philosophy, a master of arts, and licentiate in theology from St. Louis University; he earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Toronto. He is the author of 17 books, three of which are forthcoming, as well as more than 70 articles and book chapters, many of them on the works of St. Augustine.

Dr. John R. Johannes, vice president for Academic Affairs and a former colleague of Father Teske expressed his delight at the appointment. "Villanova is honored and proud to have Father Teske here," Johannes said. "His scholarly record speaks for itself in establishing him as an authority on patristics and Augustinian studies. For many years, before I came to Villanova, he and I were colleagues at Marquette, So I take personal pride and pleasure in welcoming him. I know that his presence here will enrich Villanova’s intellectual life and will certainly benefit students and faculty alike."

Click Here For Public Lectures By Reverend Teske

Mark Vessey, Ph.D.
2000

Dr. Mark Vessey, Department of English, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada shall be the second holder of the Augustinian Chair in the Thought of St. Augustine in the fall 2000 semester at Villanova University.

One purpose of the endowed chair is to promote discussion of the role of St. Augustine - man, saint, thinker, writer, work, traditions, discourses, etc.- in societies and cultures where the name has circulated.  As part of holding the Chair, Prof. Vessey organized a two-day "dialogue" or symposium, in the spirit of Cassiciacum (named after Augustine's place of retreat at the time of his conversion), on "Augustine and the Disciplines" held in the Connelly Center of Villanova University on November 9-10, 2000. Along with major speakers there was opportunity for shorter contributions, responses and moderated discussion.

Speakers were be specialists in late antiquity and the early middle ages.

Click Here For Public Lectures by Dr. Vessey
Click Here For Symposium on Augustine and the Disciplines
Click Here For Article in Villanova Magazine

Gerald Bonner, Ph.D.
1999

Emeritus Professor of Patristics at the University of Durham, England, served for many years on the faculty of that university as a reader in theology. Since his retirement, he has been visiting professor at a number of universities, including the Catholic University of America, which in 1994 honored him with the Johann Quasten Award for Excellence and Leadership in Theology.

He has lectured extensively on St. Augustine in Europe and America. In 1972, he delivered the prestigious St. Augustine Lecture at Villanova University. He is the author of many books, including The Warfare of Christ, God's Decree and Man's Destiny, and Church and Faith in the Patristic Tradition. However, he is best known for his study, St. Augustine of Hippo, Life and Controversies, published in 1963 and again in 1986.

Dr. Bonner's other works as a renowned scholar in St. Augustine include Augustine and Modern Research on Pelagianism, Famulus Christi: Essays in Commemoration of the Thirteenth Centenary of the Birth of the Venerable Bede, and God's Decree and Man's Destiny: Studies on the Thought of Augustine of Hippo.

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