Eloquentia et Ars Rhetorica Christiana. The paradigm of the oratory activity of Blessed Augustine today

In my article, I would like to point out the fact that Blessed Augustine rejects, in particular,
the form that secular literature has adopted under the influence of the second sophistry, with
its rattling words and the cult of the form which is too ornamented and artificial. He raised against
the excessive search of the literary form, against the abuse of style ornaments, which he considers a
vanity which should be eliminated from the Church. Against this argument of the word as a purpose
in itself, Augustine states that the Christian orator has a single purpose: the one of assuring the salvation
of souls. In this respect, eloquence is useful, but not indispensable. Thus, the Christian preacher
can ignore the precepts of traditional rhetoric, which can be useful (truly), but which do not impose
themselves.
According to his own experience, the usage of rhetorical rules is useful. He admits the existence
of a Christian literature which can serve as a paradigm.