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Saint Monica

Feast Day – August 27

This holy woman seems to have spent her life crying, coping, and praying. She was married to a hot-tempered pagan husband, Patricius. They had a child, Aurelius Augustinus, born in the North African town of Tagaste, a village in the present day Algeria, near the border of Tunisia. Monica prayed for Patricius to be converted to Christianity. And later in life, he did convert.

Although a brilliant student, Augustinus led a life of sin, pride and sensuality. He studied law, dropped it to take up writing and was involved in a cult. Monica, ever patient prayed hard to save her son, who eventually converted. He was baptized Augustine. Although he started his life in sin he repented and spent the rest of his life preaching and writing about God. Augustine late became the Bishop of Hippo.

Monica dies shortly after Augustine converted, having fulfilled through prayers the vision the Augustine will be saved. Such is the dedication of a mother.

Novena To Saint Monica

Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine,
You perserveringly pursued your wayward son
Not with wild threats
But with prayerful cries to heaven.

Intercede for all mothers in our day
So that they may learn
To draw their children to God.

Teach them how to remain
Close to their children,
Even the prodigal sons and daughters
Who have sadly gone astray.

Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother,
Many sorrows pierced your heart
During your lifetime.
Yet you never despaired or lost faith.
With confidence, persistence and profound faith,
You prayed daily for the conversion
Of your beloved husband, Patricius
And your beloved son, Augustine.

Grant me that same fortitude,
Patience and trust in the Lord.
Intercede for me, dear St. Monica,
That God may favorably hear my plea
For

(mention your petition here)

And grant me the grace
To accept his will in all things,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God forever and ever. Amen.

To learn more about Saint Monica or any of your favorite saint, please read
Seeking God: The Way of Saint Benedict by Esther de Waal, et al

Lives of the Saints You Should Know by Margaret R. Bunson, Matthew E. Bunson