Each year, the church celebrates the Feast of St Monica, yet it hasn’t usually caught much of my attention. This year, with all the issues much more prevalent in our society, such as abortion, suicide and abuse, the role of mothers has been strongly highlighted.
Pope Francis, in his homily at the Angelus on 28 August 2019, said about St Monica: “The young girl had a difficult life and was forced to marry an adulterous, abusive Roman pagan, with a bad temper. She suffered greatly and prayed for long years for the conversion of her family members. Her patience and kindness were said to have become a source of encouragement to other unhappy housewives. After Monica gave birth to three children, her husband would not allow them to be baptized.”
The Pope continued, “Augustine, her oldest son, was the most wayward of her children and caused her great pain. After praying for his conversion for decades, some of her prayers were eventually answered. When Augustine moved away to Milan, his mother followed and became friends with Milan’s bishop, St. Ambrose, who had a key role in leading Augustine to convert to the Christian faith. Also, shortly before his death, Monica’s husband converted.”
Pope Benedict XXVI, in one of his homilies at Castel Gandolfo on St Monica’s feast day in 2006, shared: “As Augustine himself would say later, his mother gave him birth twice; the second time required a long spiritual labor, made up of prayer and tears, but crowned in the end by the joy of seeing him not only embrace the faith and receive baptism, but also dedicate himself entirely to the service of Christ.”
He added, “How many difficulties there are also today in family relationships and how many mothers are anguished because their children choose mistaken ways! Monica, a wise and solid woman in the faith, invites them not to be discouraged, but to persevere in their mission of wives and mothers, maintaining firm their confidence in God and clinging with perseverance to prayer.”
On the occasion of her feast day, two of our Popes have reminded us about the great values of St Monica. If we have confidence in God and have hope, our families will be converted and transformed. In her experience, her abusive husband and wayward son were transformed and brought back to God through prayer. Persistent and consistent prayer.
St. Monica is patron of housewives, difficult marriages, alcoholism, mothers, widows, abuse victims, victims of adultery, and disappointing children.
As a mother, I am inspired and encouraged that whatever I am experiencing or will experience in the future regarding my children’s behaviours and attitudes, through prayer, they will be changed by God’s love and mercy.
Pope Francis, reminds us that, “As we strive to be of service to our brothers and sisters, let us ask the Holy Spirit for the interior strength of knowing that the Lord is always at our side.”
Although our world now is different from St Monica’s time, I still hope and pray that all suffering mothers and wives will find consolation as they model St Monica’s prayerful and deeply spiritual life. I trust that, through the intercession of St Monica, God will bring conversion to all families so they can live their best and truly meaningful lives.
Source of Photo-Image of St Monica: Cradio