Life of St. Monica
St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, was born in Tagaste, North Africa, about 332. Married to a pagan, Patricius, she had three children, two sons and one daughter. Through her efforts, Patricius and his mother were converted in 370. He died one year later.
St. Monica recognized his extraordinary gifts so she tried to give her son Augustine the best education possible. Above all, she wanted him to use his gifts for God and the Catholic faith. Augustine disappointed her by choosing a life of pleasure, accepting the Manichaean heresy, and rejecting Christianity. For years Monica prayed, fasted and cried silently into her pillow for the wasted, dissolute life her oldest son was leading. A priest whose advice she sought said to her, "It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish."
God was listening. He heard and finally answered these prayers of this faithful mother. Augustine, abandoned his sinful ways, accepted Baptism from the great preacher, scholar and Doctor of the church, St. Ambrose of Milan, on Easter Sunday, AD 387.
Augustine's mother, St. Monica, died shortly thereafter at the age of 55, secure in the knowledge that her son had heard God's call and her work on earth was finished. Augustine tells of her moving words of farewell before she died. "Son, nothing in this world makes me happy. All my hopes have been fulfilled. All I wished to live for was that I might see you a Catholic and a child of heaven. God has given me more. I see you ready to give up everything and become his servant."
St. Monica is the Patroness of troubled parents, married women and widows. Her feast day is celebrated in the Church on August 27th.