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June 11, 2005
St. Monica, Patron Saint of Wives and Mothers
Perhaps one of the more beautiful stories is that of Saint Monica praying ardently for her son, St. Augustine, who finally converted just before his mother’s death. A priest once told St. Monica, “it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish” to strengthen her faith.
St. Monica is the patron Saint of wives and is sometimes referred to as the patron of Mothers as well. Without her consent, she was married to an adulterous pagan man whose difficult mother lived with them. Monica bore her husband three children, all of whom (eventually) joined religious life. In addition to converting St. Augustine – one of the more well-known Saints – she also eventually converted her husband and his mother to Catholicism in 370 A.D.
This small Italian lady known for her tears, prayers, and persistence is the perfect example of a wife who follows God completely, no matter the difficulties. Here’s an excellent prayer to St. 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.
Upon her son’s conversion, she once said to him, “Son, as far as I am concerned, nothing in this life now gives me any pleasure. I do not know why I am still here, since I have no further hopes in this world. I did have one reason for wanting to live a little longer: to see you become a Catholic Christian before I died. God has lavished his gifts on me in that respect, for I know that you have even renounced earthly happiness to be his servant. So what am I doing here?”
Powerful.
God bless,
Jay
Posted by jay at June 11, 2005 03:14 PM
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