St. Fulgentius of Ruspe

Fulgentius (462-527) was the Bishop of Ruspe, Tunisia, and a friend of St. Augustine. As a young man, Fulgentius served in the government of the Vandals in northern Africa. He was named Procurator, which gave him the duty of collecting taxes. After reading Augustine's Exposition of Psalm 36, and feeling a call to enter religious life, he initially planned in 499 to join a group of hermits in Egypt. He changed his mind when he learned that Egyptian monasticism had fallen under the influence of theological errors.

Fulgentius was elected Bishop of Ruspe in 502. He followed Augustine's example in living in community with the clergy of his Diocese. Because of his devotion to the Augustinian ideal of community life and his knowledge of Augustine's writings, especially on the topic of Grace, Fulgentius was known as the Pocket Augustine.

Fulgentius died in Ruspe January 1, 527. His Feast Day is January 3.