Saint Monica

Born: c. 331 · Thagaste, Numidia (Souk Ahras, Algeria)
Died: 27 August 387 · Ostia, Italy
Feast day: 27 August
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Patron of

mothers
widows
married women
difficult marriages
disappointing children
victims of adultery or unfaithfulness
victims of verbal abuse
conversion of relatives
alcoholics
Berbers
lapsed Catholics

Monica was born around 331 in Thagaste, in Roman Numidia, now Souk Ahras in Algeria. Her family was Christian and comfortable, and she was allowed to study; she loved reading the Scriptures. While still young she was married to Patricius, a pagan official in the imperial administration who had a violent temper. Her almsgiving and long hours of prayer annoyed him, but he is said to have respected her, and she met his anger with gentleness. Patricius was baptized as he lay dying.

Monica was widowed while her eldest son was still a student, and she brought up her children alone. Three survived infancy: Augustine, Navigius, and a daughter. She dreamed of a brilliant future for Augustine, but he disappointed her. As a young man he took a companion of lower rank, with whom he lived for about fifteen years and had a son, Adeodatus, and he joined the Manichaeans. Monica grieved over his conduct and his beliefs. When he first told her his views she sent him away from her table, though a vision is said to have led her to be reconciled with him. A bishop she turned to for comfort told her that the child of such tears would never perish.

When Augustine left Carthage for Italy, he left her behind. She spent the night weeping at the tomb of Saint Cyprian, and then she followed him. At first she may have pressed him too hard, but little by little she learned to stay near him with respect and discretion. In Milan she met Bishop Ambrose, and through him she saw Augustine move toward the faith after long resistance. He was baptized in 387.

Mother and son, with friends, set out to return to Africa. They stopped at Ostia, the port of Rome, and there Monica fell ill and died in her mid-fifties. Almost all that is known of her comes from the Confessions, in which Augustine wrote at length about her faith and their last days together. She is remembered as a patient, persistent woman, and the Church honors her on 27 August, the day before her son's feast. Mothers, widows, and married women look to her as their patron.

Saint Monica, pray for us.