PALMA, MEIA JAYCEL D.

BSN 2B

THEOLOGY 6

MIDTERM EXAMINATION

1. What can you say about the Augustinian Core Values such as Caritas, Unitas and Veritas? As an
Augustinian student, how can you exercise or promote those Core Values especially this time of
Covid-19 pandemic, and now that we are in the Holy Week of the Season of Lent?

ANSWER:

CARITAS (Charity) Charity embraces both love of God and love of neighbor. UNITAS (Unity)  Unity is
basic for the existence of things. VERITAS (Truth)  Truth is found when the mind reflects on the reality of
anything. This value molded every Augustinians student to unite in charity and exercise the truths.

In this time of pandemic as an Augustinian student I can exercise this value by helping others in
providing knowledge to other people on how to prevent and combat this virus. Also, by spreading facts
about this pandemic and not be a source of false information.

In this season of lent let it be a period of reflection, prayer, and almsgiving. Lent may be time to get
rid of habits that lead us to be lazy and sinful. Lent is also a time for sacrifice. During
this season, we have the opportunity to sacrifice something that is meaningful to us.

2. How would you explain the influence and the role of Patricius and of Monica (Augustine’s
parents) in the formative years of Augustine’s life particularly when he was a child? On your
part, as a son/ daughter, what are the lessons or good points that you have learned from your
parents?

ANSWER:

Augustine was born in 354 at Thagaste (modern Souk-Ahras, Algeria), a small town in the Roman
province of Numidia, in North Africa. His father, Patricius, was a minor Roman official, and, like many
Roman citizens at that time, a nominal follower of traditional Roman pagan religion. Augustine's
mother, Monica, was a devout Christian whose piety did not seem to have a great influence upon him
until later in his life. Patricius, though not antagonistic to Monica's attempt to inculcate Christian faith in
her children, apparently effected a greater influence through the force of moral neglect than Monica
was able to through catechesis. He saw his mother's role as being the saintly (though not perfect) pillar
of the family and his own formative moral exemplar, whereas his father's moral influence he considered
at best nonexistent. It is therefore not surprising that Augustine devotes an entire section to Monica's
life, but says little about his father. Patricius and Monica, though not well off, were of sufficient means
and inclination to provide a significant formal education for their son, first in Thagaste and then in the
nearby university town of Madaura.

On my part the good lessons or teaching that my parents to me is to be a faithful disciple of God,
they thought me how to respect and love others regardless their knowledge, color, and races.

3. How would you characterize or describe Augustine as a student during his time? What do you
think would be his wonderful and enriching messages to you as student of the contemporary
time in which we are bound to observe this blended learning?

ANSWER:

The teenage Augustine excelled in Latin studies, but never liked Greek. His academic
skills made possible further study in Carthage, the most prominent city in north Africa at that
time. He is a skilled and intelligent student.
Maybe, Augustine wants to rich out and sent as message to us students especially in
this time of blended learning that whatever struggles that we are facing right now we need to
our best and do good in our study. We are all skillful that we can surpass this mode of learning.

4. The conversion of Augustine is the key to his spirituality. What then are the implications of his
conversion to you as a man/woman capable of transforming yourself and developing your own
spirituality? What can you do to celebrate this Lenten Season, and the upcoming Easter Season
meaningfully based on the story of Augustine’s conversion?

ANSWER:

Augustine's life as a young man was characterized by loose living and a search for
answers to life's basic questions. He would follow various philosophers, only to become
disillusioned with their teachings. For nine years he was associated with the Manichean sect. But
he gradually became aware that Manicheism was unable to provide satisfactory answers to his
probing questions.  Augustine was teaching rhetoric in Milan. He went to hear the preaching of
Saint Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan. At first, he went only to hear Ambrose's eloquent style of
speaking. But the Bishop's preaching led Augustine to a new understanding of the Bible and the
Christian Faith and that’s the key to his spirituality.
The implication of Augustine’s conversion to me as a woman is that being faithful to
Christ can change your life.
As we get closer to God during this 40-day span of Lenten season, we need to
remember what it is all about. We lead up to Christ’s ultimate passion, and death on the cross. 
This is a sacrifice that can never be matched. As we begin this Lenten season, we remember that
Jesus taught his disciples about almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. We use his teachings to make
our own sacrifices and honor him, in the way that he showed his disciples.