Click here for today’s Scripture readings.

1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Matthew 25:1-13

St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, was born in Tagaste, North Africa around the year 332 AD. She married Patricius, a pagan, and they had two sons and a daughter. Because she saw exceptional talents in her son Augustine, Monica made sure he received a good education. Above all, she hoped he would use his gifts to serve God and the church.

But Augustine disappointed his mother by choosing a life of pleasure and rejecting Christianity for the heresy of Manicheanism. Turning to God, Monica constantly prayed for her son. “ It’s not possible that a son of so many tears should be lost,” a priest told her.

Monica followed her wayward son to Rome in 383 and then to Milan where he had important teaching positions. In Milan, she learned he was converting to Christianity and preparing to be baptized by St. Ambrose. Overjoyed she joined him in his preparations.

As the two of them were returning to Africa, Monica fell mortally ill at the seaport of Ostia, outside Rome. Augustine recorded her words to him before her death: “Son, nothing in this world now makes me happy. All my hopes have been fulfilled. I lived for the day I would see you a Catholic and a child of heaven. God has given me more: I see you now ready to give up everything and become his servant.”

She died in 387.

Fr. Victor Hoagland, CP is the Director of Passionist Press and a member of the Passionist Community in Union City, NJ.

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