Feast of St Monica, Mother of St. Augustine

(27 08, 2011) On August 27, one day before the feast of her son St. Augustine, the Catholic Church honors St. Monica, whose holy example and fervent intercession led to one of the most dramatic conversions in Church history. Monica was born into a Catholic family in 332, in the North African city of Tagaste located in present-day Algeria. She was raised by a maidservant who taught her the virtues of obedience and temperance. While still relatively young, she married Patricius, a Roman civil servant with a bad temper and a disdain for his wife's religion. When Augustine, the oldest, became sick and was in danger of death, Patricius gave consent for his Baptism. Patricius' wife dealt patiently with his distressing behavior, which included infidelity to their marriage vows. In her distress and grief, Monica initially shunned her oldest son. However, she experienced a mysterious dream that strengthened her hope for Augustine's soul, in which a messenger assured her: "Your son is with you." After this experience, which took place around 377, she allowed him back into her home, and continued to beg God for his conversion.. One bishop, assured Monica that it was "impossible that the son of such tears should perish." St. Monica died at age 56, in the year 387. In modern times, she has become the inspiration for the St. Monica Sodality, which encourages prayer and penance among Catholics whose children have left the faith.