St. Monica
Feast day: August 27
Born in North Africa, Monica married Patricius, a pagan, and they had three children. The eldest child was St. Augustine of Hippo. Patricius and Monica became Christians in 371, and he died a year later. Monica prayed earnestly for Augustine’s conversion, but he scorned Christianity and had a son with his mistress. Monica followed him to Rome in 383, where she became a follower of St. Ambrose. In Milan, three years later, she saw her eldest son be baptized, which brought her great joy. While preparing for her return to Africa in 387, Monica fell ill and died. Her relics are enshrined at the church of St. Augustine in Rome.
Collect
O God, who console the sorrowful
and who mercifully accepted
the motherly tears of Saint Monica
for the conversion of her son Augustine,
grant us, through the intercession of them both,
that we may bitterly regret our sins
and find the grace of your pardon.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
