Final answer:
St. Augustine's devout Christian mother indeed lamented his early adherence to Manicheanism. Augustine's eventual conversion to Christianity led him to become an influential bishop and writer who defended theological orthodoxy and argued for human free will in conjunction with divine grace.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that St. Augustine's mother, who was a Christian, lamented his Manichean beliefs. Augustine was raised by a Christian mother who dearly wished for her son to embrace Christianity. His initial adherence to Manicheanism, a religious belief system that depicted the world as a struggle between good and evil, was indeed a source of distress for her. Later, influenced by various experiences including the life of Antony of the Desert, Augustine converted to Christianity and became a staunch opponent of the Manichean heresy. He went on to become a bishop and wrote extensively against multiple heresies, reaffirming the goodness of God's creation.
Augustine's theological contributions addressed issues of free will, the problem of evil, and divine grace. His work suggests that despite the original sin, humans have the power to choose the good, which can be influenced but not compelled by divine grace. Augustine's ideas were pivotal in shaping Christian philosophy and have continued to be topics of interest for contemporary philosophy and theology.