May 4: Feast of Saint Monica, Mother of Saint Augustine

Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine
Feast day: May 4 (August 27 in the current Roman calendar)

This holy woman was born around 331 in Thagaste, in North Africa, into an honourable family that raised her in the fear of God and the love of virtue. Her parents married her to a young pagan named Patricius, a harsh man who mistreated her and resented her generosity to the poor and her visits to the sick. She responded with gentleness, kindness and beautiful patience, until by her good conduct and her prayer she managed to soften his character and lead him to the faith. She had three children with him: Augustine, Navigius and a daughter, Perpetua, whom she took care to raise in the fear of God and the keeping of his commandments.

Augustine gave himself over to recklessness in his youth. As a young man he gave free rein to the desires of the flesh and was drawn into the heresy of Mani, ignoring his mother’s rebukes and advice. When she despaired of correcting him, she turned to God and entrusted her son to his providence, pleading, praying and weeping until her tears soaked the ground.

Augustine went to Milan, and his mother followed him there to look after him. He met the bishop of the city, Saint Ambrose, and began going to church to hear his sermons. Monica went to Saint Ambrose to tell him about her son’s life; the saint comforted and reassured her, until she had the joy of seeing her son converted to the true faith and baptized. From then on she devoted herself to contemplation, prayer and penance. When Augustine decided to return to his homeland in Africa, his mother went with him. When they reached Ostia, she fell asleep in the Lord in his arms, having received the sacraments, in 387. The Church celebrated her funeral in the presence of her son, and her body was buried with every honour. Since ancient times the Church has honoured her name and sought her intercession.