August 27: The Feast Day of Saint Monica

St. Monica was born in North Africa in 333. Although her parents were Christian, she married a pagan named Patritius as a young woman. Her husband was known for his violent temper, and Monica’s prayer life and almsgiving was a source of annoyance to him.

Monica and Patritius had three children: Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Patritius refused to allow her to have the children baptized. Augustine in particular was a source of worry for his mother, for he adopted a rather dissolute lifestyle. Augustine went abroad to receive an education, and his lifestyle deteriorated still further. For years, Monica continued to pray for the conversion of her husband. For years, she continued to pray that Augustine would leave his sinful lifestyle and join the Church. For years her prayers seemingly went unanswered. Monica received one consolation during this time, however, when her husband became a Christian. Shortly after he was received into the Church, Patritius died.

Still, her worries about Augustine were not over. While away at school, he had become a Manichean. Manichaeism was a heresy which aimed to synthesize all religious systems known in Augustine’s day, and contained elements of Babylonian folklore, Buddhism, Dualizm, and Zoroastrian Dualism along with a smattering of Christian beliefs tossed in to add to the confusion. When Augustine began pontificating to Monica about his beliefs, she sent him away, only to pursue him to Rome and Milan in order to ask him to return when a vision urged her to do so. Once they were united – after 17 years of steadfastly turning away from Christ – Augustine finally converted and was baptized in Milan. He went on to become one of the most respected theologians in Church history.

Not long after Augustine’s conversion and while still many long miles from their homeland, Monica told Augustine that she was at peace, and that she was convinced that her life’s task had been completed. Soon thereafter, she developed a fever and died two days later. Friends were concerned that Monica would grieve knowing she would die and be buried in a foreign country. She replied that she was sure God would remember where she was buried and raise her up.

In Monica, we see a wonderful example of faithful, persistent prayer and intercession on behalf of loved ones who seem lost.

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Don’t forget to enter this week’s caption contest! You can find it here.

I'm planning on holding one every Wednesday - I've had fun seeing your creative ideas.