St_Monica

Saint Monica of Hippo (332 – 387) is a Christian
saint and mother of Saint Augustine.

Saint Monica was of Berber descent (Monica was a Berber name
derived from the Libyan deity Mon worshipped in the neighbouring town of
Thibilis)[citation needed].

She was born at Tagaste (located in modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria)
Her parents brought her up as Christian and married her to an older,
pagan man named Patricius.

Patricius was not a model husband. He was short tempered and a
carouser. He was a man with a great deal of energy, but also a man
given to violent tempers and adultery. Augustine reports that despite the
prevalence of domestic abuse at the time, because of her obedience to
him, Patricius never beat St. Monica.

Furthermore, her mother-in-law was against her and put her into great
troubles. Yet Monica prayed ceaselessly for his conversion. St. Monica
attended church daily and found patience. Eventually, she converted
Patricius to Christianity and calmed his violence. Her sweet piety,
patience and persistence paid off. One day, Patricius accepted Baptism
but he lived only a short year as a christian before he died.

St. Monica bore three children, among them Saint Augustine. Augustine
made her very happy with his successes as a scholar and teacher, but he
also made her very ashamed with his debauchery. For ten years,
Augustine lived with his mistress and subscribed to Manichaeism. St.
Monica sent Augustine to a bishop to be convinced of his errors.
The bishop, however, was unable to prevail, and he advised St. Monica
simply to continue to pray for her son. He told her, "It is impossible that the
son of so many tears should perish." At the age of 28, Augustine received
grace, according to his Confessions, and came to orthodox Christianity.

When Patricius died, St. Monica joined Augustine in Italy. When she was
fifty-six, she died while in Ostia with Augustine preparing to leave for a
return to Africa. This was not long after her son's baptism by St. Ambrose.

St. Monica's feast day in the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America is May 4 on the pre-Vatican II calendar and
27 August on the post-Vatican II calendar.

She is the patron saint of:
patience, abuse victims; alcoholics; alcoholism; difficult marriages;
disappointing children; homemakers; housewives; Mabini, Bohol,
Philippines; married women; mothers; victims of adultery; victims of
unfaithfulness; victims of verbal abuse; widows; wives

Prayer to Saint Monica

Exemplary Mother of the great Augustine,
you perseveringly 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.

Amen.

Novena Prayer to St Monica

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 favourably 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.