Well, last week our friend Augustine was headed to Rome. He was looking for

fame and fulfillment and even he was looking for happiness. He did not find it in Rome. He

only spent a few short months there and then he went off way up north to Milan.

Well we've been talking about the places in Augustine's life, places like

his birth town, Thagast, Carthage, Rome, Milan.

Let's talk about the people in Augustine's life.

And let's just mention five for now.

First, there is Monica, his mother, that devout Christian. She never stopped praying for her son.

She was relentless, indefatigable in her pursuit. She kept a close watch on that son of hers and wherever he went

she was not far behind. She followed him on to Rome and she even followed him on to Milan.

Next up is Illippius.

Alypius would be a lifelong friend of Augustine.

They were in Carthage together.

They sailed to Rome together.

They were in Rome briefly for those few months and they were also in Milan together.

Thirdly, there was another friend, but this friend we don't know the name of.

It was as if Augustine couldn't bring himself to name him in the pages of the

confession. About this time Augustine is around 30 years old. We assume this friend was about

the same age, entering into the prime of his life as it were. And he got some illness, some

disease, and he died. and this terribly affected Augustine.

As I mentioned, Augustine could not even bring himself to tell us his friend's name.

This close friend's death was a ringing alarm clock wake-up call for

...