08/27/2026
Years ago, I gave a talk on St. Monica of Hippo, St. Augustine's mother. I thought I'd share today on her feast day, August 27th, some of the take aways I learned from St. Monica's life:
Trust in God
Patience/God’s Time is Not Ours /Let Go of Control, Fear and Worry
Throughout Confessions, Augustine unveils the fear and worry she lived with wanting to keep watch over her son at all times, and thereby, to a certain extent, desiring to control the course of his life. Even from the earliest days of Augustine’s life, Monica seeks to protect him from any potential dangers to his faith.
When Monica tries to keep Augustine from going to Rome,
“She wept bitterly to see me go and followed me to the water’s edge, clinging to me with all her strength in the hope that I would either come home or take her with me” (Confessions 5.8).
Monica’s faith transforms “…she told me quite serenely, with her heart full of faith, that in Christ she believed that before she left this life she would see me a faithful Catholic…” (Confessions 6.1).
St. Monica died a happy death knowing that St. Augustine had finally converted to the faith. Her life is a witness to the effectiveness of persistence, determination, prayers, fasting, and sacrifices for the sake of those in need of conversion. She is indeed the patron saint of conversions and we have much to learn from her!
Conversion/Hope
Always have hope for others conversion/pray intentionally
The whole family was converted even slaves because of God’s grace and the holiness of one person in the family—Saint Monica. She was so patient and worked to serve with kindness even in the most difficult people. Families today can still be converted by the holiness of one person.
Faithful Prayer
Fervently
St. Monica prayed, fasted, and sacrificed for her son and let him know that she was praying for him. It is not of her gifts that I shall speak, but of the gifts you gave to her. For she was neither her own maker nor her own teacher…It was by Christ’s teaching…that she was brought up to honor and obey you…” (Confessions 9.8).
For nearly nine years were yet to come during which I wallowed deep in…the darkness of delusion…Yet all the time this chaste, devout, and prudent woman…never ceased to pray at all hours and to offer you the tears she shed for me” (Confessions 3. 11).
Her testimony remains a source of inspiration to parents of wayward children to pray fervently with patience and trust in God. B Ambrose’s advice to “Just pray to God for him” and truly trust that the “son of these tears will not be lost” (Confessions 3.12).
Seek Spiritual Direction and Support
Don’t go it alone.
There are so many ways you can feel alone: unbelieving husbands, husbands with vices, rebellious sons and daughters, gossipy in-laws. Rather keeping her troubles to herself, Monica shared with her Bishop and later her spiritual director—the great Bishop Saint Ambrose. For us, we need a spiritual person with whom we can vent, share, express our anguish, and seek wise counsel!
