St. Monica’s Story

The circumstances of Saint Monica’s 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 to marriage to a pagan, Patricius, who lived in her hometown of Tagaste in North Africa.  Patricius had some redeeming characteristics, 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 privately because of her charity and piety, but always respected her in public.  Monica’s prayers and example finally won her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity.  Her husband died in 371, one year after his baptism.  

Monica’s oldest child, Augustine, was 17 at the time of his father’s death and a rhetoric student in Carthage.  Monica was distressed to learn that her son had accepted the Manichean heresy, – all flesh is evil” – and 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 went to Rome to teach rhetoric.  Monica was determined to go along.  One night, Augustine 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 Augustine’s 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, St. Ambrose, who also became Monica’s 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 while I am still here, all my hopes in this world now being fulfilled.”  She became ill shortly after and suffered severely for nine days before her death.

Almost all we know about St. Monica is the writings of Saint Augustine, especially his confessions.

Reflection

This is why we chose Monica.  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 our 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.  St. Monica is the patron saint of Alcoholics, Conversion, Married Women and Mothers.