Augustine’s Quest for Wisdom, originally published in 1945, is a veritable encyclopedia of Augustinian thought. Meticulously tracing the saint’s intellectual and spiritual conversions toward God, Vernon J. Bourke develops a rich study of Augustine as the original Christian philosopher—a man wholly devoted to the love of wisdom. This study has two parts: first, the scholarly career of one of the brightest intellects the Western world has ever known; second, the ecclesial and pastoral ministry of a priest and bishop of Jesus Christ, dedicated to the salvation of souls. With assurance and equilibrium, Bourke delivers to his readers the totality of Augustine’s understanding of Creator, creature, and creation.

On the occasion of its original publication, Joseph Husslein, S.J., called Augustine’s Quest for Wisdom “a new milestone in the progress of Augustinian studies.” To this day, the book remains a priceless introduction to the wisdom of the Bishop of Hippo.