ADMIRERS of Augustine's theoretical brilliance cannot but be struck,
when they turn their eye to the humble realities among which he
worked, by the sobriety of his liturgical practice. The verbal luxuriance
of his symbolic interpretations is here offset by an almost puritanical sim-
plicity. A description of the Augustinian liturgy leaves one feeling miles
removed from a world that cultivates la religion de la pompe attendrissante.
Indeed if one were to seek a word that expressed the atmosphere of that time
better than any other one would probably choose the opening words of Com-
pline, "Fratres, sobrii estote et vigilate" -- "Brothers, be sober and vigilant."

Augustine has not a word to say about the splendours of the basilicas. It
is most rarely that he even mentions the heavy draperies, vessels of silver
and gold, the bowls and vases, sieves and chalices, the lamps and candelabra,
which, according to the schedule of a confiscation order respecting the church
at Cirta, had been part of the customary furniture of any urban church for at
least a hundred years. ¹ We hear, it is true, that on one occasion Augustine
did what Cyprian had done (and somewhat later Ambrose), namely, that he
had the precious vessels melted down to provide ransom for a number of
prisoners. ² He had little taste for the splendid attire that might have been held
to suit his high office, and usually told those who presented him with it that
he would certainly sell it; ³ whether this disdain extended to liturgical vest-
ments we cannot say. Even this last is probable enough, however, for in those
days even the higher clergy wore their ordinary clothes at worship, or at best
a white festival garment. Without making any distinctions between one
another Augustine and his housemates would, when occasion arose, take a
cloak from the communal rack, and all wore the same uniform tunic made of
ordinary wool. ⁴

He cared little about the decorations in his church. Every historian of art
knows the fun he made of the stupid fellows who actually thought that Christ
had written letters to Peter and Paul, because they were represented in so

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