Monica, Mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, 387
"The child of those tears shall never perish..."
One of those maternal and spousal saints who taught her child to pray really well; who then prayed for her child faithfully throughout his variegated life of bumping into Love, and ultimately was graced to participate with him in a legendary vision of the glory of God.
She was a faithful wife in an unhappy marriage, but she was able to exercise a veritable apostolate amongst the wives and mothers of her hometown. She also pursued her wayward son Augustine from city to city until he was baptized by Ambrose, and found his rest in "Him who was higher than his higest and more inward than his inmost self." (Augustine, Confessions III)
As the patron saint of married women and of wayward children lost to addictions, Monica is invoked today especially by the members of an international archconfraternity under her patronage, whose object is the mutual prayer for sons and husbands who have gone astray.
"Omnipotent God, you perseveringly pursue your wayward sons and daughters not with wild threats, but with their parents' prayerful cries to heaven. May all mothers in our day learn to draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain close to their children, even their prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray. Amen."
posted by MM at 4:44 PM
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