La notion de prochain chez Augustin au début de son épiscopat : le rôle matriciel du sermon De dilectione Dei et proximi (Sermon Dolbeau 11)

Abstract

The sermons of Augustine of Hippo play a key role in the development of Augustine’s thought. This paper attempts to show this through an example, the Sermon Dolbeau 11 (De dilectione Dei et proximi). It studies at first the links between the Sermon Dolbeau 11 and the concept of love of neighbour that emerges, and contemporary sermons in 397. Thus, the various echo effects, the same concept of caritas and the close relationship between the De dilectione and the De disciplina christiana are identified. So, these comparisons offer interesting elements to date the homiletic works of Augustine of Hippo. Secondly, we study the links between the De dilectione and the Confessiones, whether it be scriptural, thematic or notional links (the concept of proximus). This study brings us to identify a new generic category and to define the Sermon Dolbeau 11 as an ‘autobiographical sermon’. Ultimately, this paper leads us to see the homiletic works of Augustine of Hippo as a mirror of his entire work in its unity and to ...