In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears. Ps. 18:6
Today we remember and give thanks for Monica, Mother of Augustine. A native of North Africa, Monica (A.D. 333–387) was the devoted mother of Saint Augustine. Throughout her life she sought the spiritual welfare of her children, especially that of her brilliant son, Augustine. Widowed at a young age, she devoted herself to her family, praying many years for Augustine’s conversion. When Augustine left North Africa to go to Italy, she followed him to Rome and then to Milan. There she had the joy of witnessing her son’s conversion to the Christian faith. Weakened by her travels, Monica died at Ostia, Italy on the journey she had hoped would take her back to her native Africa.
Thanks to Waltzing Mathilda, here's a coloring sheet of St. Monica.
Are there any favorite blog posts, sermons, or passages you have which address the sorrow (and fear) of a child (or spouse) rejecting the Faith? I know I have read a few, but I do a poor job of bookmarking, and don't have time to search right now.
Happy St. Monica's Day! May the Holy Spirit keep you and yours in your baptisms unto life everlasting. Amen!
And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:21-23
