The Healing Journey

August 27, 2025

Never underestimate the power of a mother’s prayers. St. Monica’s life was one of tears and prayer … and ultimately, joy. For 17 years, she prayed for her son Augustine’s conversion.

This woman also faced other adversities in life. She was made to marry an abusive and dissolute pagan named Patricus. She lived with a nasty, meddling mother-in-law. And in her young years, she had a drinking problem. In all these challenges, she turned to prayer, and for centuries, she has been a spiritual role model for countless mothers and fathers whose children stray or ignore the faith.

Monica was born in 331 in Tagaste, which is now Algeria, to a devout Christian family. They arranged her marriage to a pagan land-owner, and the couple had three children — Augustine, Navigius and an unnamed daughter.

Her greatest challenge was her oldest child, the wayward Augustine. She taught him his catechism and prayers as a child, but he fell away from the faith. He partied and lived with his girlfriend and their son. Disgusted with his lifestyle, Monica kicked him out of their home.

However, she regained hope when a bishop told her, “At present, the heart of the young man is too stubborn, but God’s time will come. It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish.”

She eventually saw her son baptized by Bishop Ambrose in Milan in 387, but she died several months later of malaria at 56. Augustine was later ordained and became Bishop of Hippo and a Doctor of the Church. Even Patricus and his mother converted to Christianity. We observe her feast day on August 27 and Augustine’s on August 28.

The funeral epitaph on her original tomb in Ostia offers this tribute: “Here the most virtuous mother of a young man set her remains, a second light to your merits, Augustine. As a priest, protecting the heavenly laws of peace, you teach the people entrusted to you with your character. A glory greater than the praise of your accomplishments crowns you both — Mother of the Virtues, more fortunate because of her offspring.”
©J Pisani

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