Dearest Ones,
Attention: Mothers! You have a very powerful patron saint in heaven, who loves and understands. It is St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine. Monica lived in the 4th century. She was a strong Christian, but married a pagan, one who does not believe in the true God. She had one son, Augustine, who was very brilliant, taught philosophy to college students, but, unfortunately, was not a Christian.
He was a wayward son, who disappointed his mother grievously, causing her a great deal of sorrow. He had no interest in marriage, so he lived with a mistress and had an illegitimate child. When Monica's husband died, leaving her nothing to live on, she was forced to move in with her son, who had a mistress and caused her a great deal of grief.
Over 17 years, Monica prayed, fasted, pleaded and begged her son to change his ways. Her spiritual director told her, "Surely the son of so many tears will not be lost." She never gave up. Augustine didn't like his mother's nagging, so once he sailed for Rome without telling her. He underestimated her. She caught another ship and followed him. She only wanted him to save his soul and not spend eternity in hell.
Attention: Mothers! You have a very powerful patron saint in heaven, who loves and understands. It is St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine. Monica lived in the 4th century. She was a strong Christian, but married a pagan, one who does not believe in the true God. She had one son, Augustine, who was very brilliant, taught philosophy to college students, but, unfortunately, was not a Christian.
He was a wayward son, who disappointed his mother grievously, causing her a great deal of sorrow. He had no interest in marriage, so he lived with a mistress and had an illegitimate child. When Monica's husband died, leaving her nothing to live on, she was forced to move in with her son, who had a mistress and caused her a great deal of grief.
Over 17 years, Monica prayed, fasted, pleaded and begged her son to change his ways. Her spiritual director told her, "Surely the son of so many tears will not be lost." She never gave up. Augustine didn't like his mother's nagging, so once he sailed for Rome without telling her. He underestimated her. She caught another ship and followed him. She only wanted him to save his soul and not spend eternity in hell.
She never lost hope and kept praying for Augustine before he finally was baptized at the age of 35 and became a dedicated Catholic priest. It was through St. Ambrose's sermons, that he was finally converted. Someone told him how powerful they were, so he started going to a Church to hear them. It was not because the sermons were so convincing that he was converted, but it was because Ambrose was so loving and accepting of him, even though he was not a believer.
Augustine became one of the greatest influences in the early Catholic Church and spent the rest of his life in repentance for his sins. He wrote a marvelous book telling of his conversion called, "Confessions of St. Augustine," which has helped countless people. He wanted to be remembered as a sinner in order to give others courage and hope, despite their sins. Augustine's son and mistress were baptized at the same time as Augustine. His son died at the age of 20 and his mistress became a nun.
Concerning the mysteries of God, He had this to say, "If you say you understand God, then what you have understood is not God." He was telling us that we can know God, we can love God, but we can never fullyunderstand God. His famous words of wisdom, "Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in You," are often quoted and have helped many.
Toward the end of Monica's life, she spent a great deal of time with her son, Augustine, praying and talking about heaven. She said she was ready to die because her son was finally converted. Her last words were,"Son, after I am gone, I beg you to remember me at the altar of God." Her final wish was that he would offer Holy Masses for her soul. If St. Monica, who was such a saintly woman, thought she needed to be remembered at Mass, how much more do we need remembering there, too. She knew the power of the Mass.
Mothers, please remember you have a powerful saint in heaven interceding for you. St. Monica teaches us to never, never give up Hope. Surely, there must have been times when Monica was tempted to despair because it took so long before Augustine finally converted. The Lord was testing her faith and maybe He thought we needed her example of faith in prayer.
All my love and prayers,
Sister Francelle
Augustine became one of the greatest influences in the early Catholic Church and spent the rest of his life in repentance for his sins. He wrote a marvelous book telling of his conversion called, "Confessions of St. Augustine," which has helped countless people. He wanted to be remembered as a sinner in order to give others courage and hope, despite their sins. Augustine's son and mistress were baptized at the same time as Augustine. His son died at the age of 20 and his mistress became a nun.
Concerning the mysteries of God, He had this to say, "If you say you understand God, then what you have understood is not God." He was telling us that we can know God, we can love God, but we can never fullyunderstand God. His famous words of wisdom, "Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in You," are often quoted and have helped many.
Toward the end of Monica's life, she spent a great deal of time with her son, Augustine, praying and talking about heaven. She said she was ready to die because her son was finally converted. Her last words were,"Son, after I am gone, I beg you to remember me at the altar of God." Her final wish was that he would offer Holy Masses for her soul. If St. Monica, who was such a saintly woman, thought she needed to be remembered at Mass, how much more do we need remembering there, too. She knew the power of the Mass.
Mothers, please remember you have a powerful saint in heaven interceding for you. St. Monica teaches us to never, never give up Hope. Surely, there must have been times when Monica was tempted to despair because it took so long before Augustine finally converted. The Lord was testing her faith and maybe He thought we needed her example of faith in prayer.
All my love and prayers,
Sister Francelle
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