Augustine of Hippo was a theologian and philosopher. After Saint Augustine’s conversion to Christianity, he eventually became the bishop of Hippo and greatly influenced the local church. However, his legacy has spread far beyond the local church of the fifth century. Saint Augustine has had a massive impact on the modern Catholic Church and politics.
While he was alive, Saint Augustine held the belief that all political states had a divine purpose. Meaning that no matter the political priorities of governmental leaders, God had appointed them to lead their people. Saint Augustine also believed that humans act in accordance with what they love, whether that be political power, money, sex, passion or fame. As humans, love is ultimately what compels us, no matter what we love.
As a believer, the greatest calling is to love God and his people. Saint Augustine recognized this calling and claimed that “justice is serving God only, and therefore ruling well all else.”
In Saint Augustine’s work, “City of God,” he explores the concept of ordo amoris, the idea of hierarchical love – loving God above all else, then ourselves and finally loving the people who are closest in proximity to us. He goes on to explain that virtue is not just loving the right things but loving them in the right order.
Our country’s leaders are invoking this medieval concept as they push for a new policy. JD Vance once said, “You love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country. And then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world. Vance went on to post “just google ordo amoris…” on X.
This post led to backlash from the Catholic Church. Specifically, Pope Francis went on to release a letter to U.S. Bishops criticizing the use of ordo amoris in defense of stricter immigration policies.
This begs the question: How should a nation order its love towards citizens or non-citizens?
President Donald Trump has focused his campaign and the first three months of his presidency on securing the southern border. For many Americans, this has created a moral dilemma. As a nation founded on Christian principles with the purpose of being a safe haven from oppression, how do we balance justice?
Senator Josh Hawley delivered the keynote address at the National Conservatism Conference in 2024. He said that we are a nation forged from Augustine’s vision and that we are united by common love. Ultimately, Senator Hawley encouraged listeners to return to our Christian political traditions. Hawley said, “The truth is, Christian nationalism is not a threat to American democracy. Christian nationalism founded American democracy. And it is the best form of democracy yet devised by man: the most just, the most free, the most humane and praiseworthy.”
For Senator Hawley, Christian nationalism is the solution to what many would call an “immigration crisis.”
Yet, Saint Augustine believed that a well-ordered society could not be achieved simply by a structured government. He believed that there is a need for the right order within each individual man himself.
In “City of God,” Book XIX, Chapter 4, Saint Augustine said, “For the happiness of the state has no other source than the happiness of man, since the state is merely a unified group of men.” Augustine means that the people of a nation cannot achieve happiness and justice unless they are founded in God’s grace and justice. However, many believe that being described as gracious and just creates an oxymoron. Grace can only exist when there is an understanding of right and wrong, which is justice.
As a nation, how do we balance grace and justice within our legislation while ensuring the happiness of man? Additionally, is our government responsible for the happiness of all men or just of its citizens?
Augustine would remind them that citizenship is not found here but in the heavenly realm. This citizenship is not a right, but it is something that believers are able to be a part of through their faith in God. If nations are founded by men pursuing a common love, much like how our brothers and sisters in Christ share a common love for God, the same principle of citizenship as a privilege can be applied to our earthly nations.
So, if it is a privilege, then it would be unjust to reward those participating in illegal activities. Would God still be considered “just” if he let the guilty go unpunished?
Even in the pursuit of justice, we cannot lose our humanity. Even those who are not pursuing the same love as another are still pursuing the love they have in their hearts.
Our policies cannot be inhumane. Our policies should be about the balance of grace and justice. A person does not deserve less for seeking a different type of love.
If the people in our country are hurting, then our country will eventually hurt as well. If justice truly is loving God – are we predestined to suffer the same fate as Rome?
Augustine acknowledged that we all desire to find peace. Every war is fought to obtain some type of peace and in our sin, conflict is inevitable. In this tension of the earthly city and the desire for a heavenly one with a guarantee of peace, we must do our best to deny our sinful desires of pursuing selfish fights of temporal peace.
As a nation, we’re at a crossroads. How do we order our love, towards citizens or non-citizens? Is there a right answer? According to Augustine, we will serve a divine purpose. What divine purpose we serve is held in the hands of God.
If Saint Augustine was here today, I’m not sure he would be in support of American politicians using his beliefs to support their narrative, but I also believe his works are applicable to our modern state. As our founding fathers looked to Rome as a model for the new republic, studying philosophies and exploring the fall of Rome could serve as a model for creating a long-lasting nation.
