E02683: Augustine of Hippo preaches in Latin a sermon on the feast of the *Scillitan Martyrs (martyrs in Carthage from Scillium, S00913), referring to their Acts. Sermon 299E, preached probably in Carthage (North Africa), possibly in 397.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 299E

[Tractatus de natale sanctorum Scillitanorum in Basilica Novarum

'Discourse on the birthday of the Scillitan saints in the Basilica Novarum]


1. Martyrum Christi uirorum et feminarum fortitudo Christus. Si enim uiri soli in passione fortes exsisterent, sexui fortiori uirtus tribueretur. Ideo fortiter pati et infirmior sexus potuit, quia Deus in omnibus potuit ...

'1. The strength, the fortitude, of Christ's martyrs, men and women alike, is Christ. If men, alone, you see, stood out as being brave and strong in suffering, their courage would be attributed to the stronger sex. The reason the weaker sex too has been able to suffer bravely, is that God was able make it possible in people of all sorts ...'


There follows a general reflection on martyrdom. Later on (ch. 2) Augustine refers to the words spoken by one of the martyrs which indeed can be found in the Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs:

Illo magisterio edocta fortissima femina; honore, inquit, Caesari tamquam Caesari: timorem autem Deo.

'Taught by this magisterial lesson, that most valiant woman said: "Honour to Caesar as Caesar, but reverence to God".'

In what follows the preacher deals with the issue of wealth.


Text: Morin 1930, 550 and 553. Translation: Hill 1994, 263 and 265. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.