Monica was born in North Africa. She was given in an arranged marriage by her parents to a pagan official. Her marriage was anything but good: her husband giving into a violent temper and to his lusts for other women. Her mother-in-law lived with them and was not a positive addition to their home life, makinig Monica's life even more of a burden. Monica and her husband had three children: Augustine, Navigius and Perpetua. Through her prayers Monica was able to convert her husband and her mother-in-law to the faith in the year 370. He died a year later. Navigius and Perpetua entered the religious life.
Augustine proved to be more difficult but she kept up her prayers even begging priests to pray for him. Monica wrote that one priest did console her by saying to her: "it is not possible that the son of so many tears would perish."
Augustine was eventually Baptized by (Saint) Ambrose in the year 387. Monica died later that same year on the way home to Africa from Rome.
She is the patron saint of wives and victims of abuse.
1 comment:
Some of us with adult children need to pray a lot to St. Monica.
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