Catholic Political Theology: The “Two Cities” and “Two Swords,” and Beyond

Abstract

Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God: the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self…. In the one, the princes and the nations it subdues are ruled by the love of ruling; in the other, the princes and the subjects serve one another in love, the latter obeying, while the former take thought for all…. Of the two first parents of the human race …. Cain was the first-born, and he belonged to the city of men; after him was born Abel, who belonged to the city of God…. It is recorded of Cain that he built a city, but Abel, being a sojourner, built none. For the city of the saints is above, although here below it begets citizens, in whom it sojourns till the time of its reign arrives, when it shall gather together all in the day of the resurrection. —St. Augustine, The City of God 14:28, 15:1