Description
Saint Monica was born in North Africa in 330 AD. She was married to a pagan man, Patricius, and had three children. Patricius was violent and licentious, and Monica had to bear with a mother-in-law who was also difficult. When Patricius died in 371, Monica followed her son Augustine to Milan, where he was studying rhetoric. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, converted Augustine and Monica became his spiritual director. Monica was a leader of devout women in Milan and she continued to pray for her son during his years of instruction. Monica died in 387 AD, shortly after her son baptized Augustine.
St Monica Medal
2.5cm long x 1.5cm wide
Saint of the Day for August 27
(c. 330 387)
Saint Monicas Story
The circumstances of Saint Monicas life could have made her a
nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law, and a despairing parent, yet she
did not give way to any of these temptations. Although she was a
Christian, her parents gave her in marriage to a pagan, Patricius, who
lived in her hometown of Tagaste in North Africa. Patricius had some
redeeming features, but he had a violent temper and was licentious.
Monica also had to bear with a cantankerous mother-in-law who lived in
her home. Patricius criticized his wife because of her charity and
piety, but always respected her. Monicas prayers and example finally
won her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity. Her husband died in
371, one year after his baptism.
Monica had at least three children who survived infancy. The oldest,
Augustine, is the most famous. At the time of his fathers death,
Augustine was 17 and a rhetoric student in Carthage. Monica was
distressed to learn that her son had accepted the Manichean heresyall
flesh is eviland was living an immoral life. For a while, she refused
to let him eat or sleep in her house. Then one night she had a vision
that assured her Augustine would return to the faith. From that time on,
she stayed close to her son, praying and fasting for him. In fact she
often stayed much closer than Augustine wanted.
When he was 29, Augustine decided to go to Rome to teach rhetoric.
Monica was determined to go along. One night he told his mother that he
was going to the dock to say goodbye to a friend. Instead he set sail
for Rome. Monica was heartbroken when she learned of Augustines trick,
but she still followed him. She arrived in Rome only to find that he had
left for Milan. Although travel was difficult, Monica pursued him to
Milan.
In Milan, Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, Saint
Ambrose, who also became Monicas spiritual director. She accepted his
advice in everything and had the humility to give up some practices that
had become second nature to her. Monica became a leader of the devout
women in Milan as she had been in Tagaste.
She continued her prayers for Augustine during his years of
instruction. At Easter 387, Saint Ambrose baptized Augustine and several
of his friends. Soon after, his party left for Africa. Although no one
else was aware of it, Monica knew her life was near the end. She told
Augustine, Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not
know what there is now left for me to do or why I am still here, all my
hopes in this world being now fulfilled. She became ill shortly after
and suffered severely for nine days before her death.
Almost all we know about St. Monica is in the writings of Saint Augustine, especially his
Confessions
.
Reflection
Today, with Google searches, online shopping, text messages, tweets,
and instant credit, we have little patience for things that take time.
Likewise, we want instant answers to our prayers. Monica is a model of
patience. Her long years of prayer, coupled with a strong,
well-disciplined character, finally led to the conversion of her
hot-tempered husband, her cantankerous mother-in-law and her brilliant
but wayward son, Augustine.
Saint Monica is the Patron Saint of:
Alcoholics
Conversion
Married Women
Mothers
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