Augustine was born at Tagaste in North Africa in 354. At first he followed his mother’s example and advice but later fell into a licentious way of life: “My sins increased like a rolling snowball,” he wrote in his Confessions. In her distress, Monica turned to God in prayer and tears and remained with her son wherever he went. He was a talented teacher and his mind was ever in search of knowledge. Augustine went first to Rome and then was appointed professor of rhetoric at Milan. St. Ambrose received the young teacher kindly and taught him Christian doctrine; Augustine had already embraced one philosophy after another and now at length came slowly to the truth. One day, inspired from heaven, he took up the Epistles of St. Paul and read, “Wallow not in debauchery and impurity, but clothe yourselves in our Lord Jesus Christ.” At once his mind was made up. He received baptism on Holy Saturday, 387, at the age of thirty-two. Seven months later St. Monica died as she asked her son to remember her at God’s altar. Augustine returned to Africa, was ordained priest and then made Bishop of Hippo at the age of forty-one. From the beginning he organized his clergy into a community and lived the common life with them.