A fresh new translation of Augustine s inaugural work as a Christian convert The first four works written by St Augustine of Hippo after his conversion to Christianity are the Cassiciacum dialogues which have influenced prominent thinkers from Boethius to Bernard Lonergan In this second brief dialogue expertly translated by Michael Foley Augustine and his mother brother son and friends celebrate his thirty second birthday by having a feast of words on the nature of happiness They conclude that the truly happy life consists of having God through faith hope and charity