Saint Monica and Saint Augustine

Saint Monica and Saint Augustine, were a mother-and-son duo of holiness. They will always be known for the conversion of a great sinner and the faithful mom who prayed for it to happen.

Monica lived in Northern Africa when it was still under the rule of the Roman Empire around 350 AD. Saint Constantine had made Christianity the official religion of the empire, however, certain areas still practiced pagan customs from the past. While there were many Christians where Monica lived in the town of Tagaste (in present-day Algeria), many pagans were present as well.

It was customary in this period for the parents to arrange marriages. Monica’s parents matched the young girl with a pagan man twice her age named Patricius. Monica’s influence on Patricius proved good for him, but he struggled with his worldly ways for most of his life. Monica maintained patience and holiness throughout the marriage. She bore three children; two boys; Augustine and Navigius and then a daughter, Perpetua. Navigius and Perpetua were pious and were both married. When Perpetua lost her husband she entered a monastery. The oldest, Augustine, took much longer to find the faith than his two younger siblings had. This great Saint will forever be tied to his mother and her endless prayers for his return to the faith.

In the time and society in which Saint Monica and Saint Augustine lived, it was common practice to "save" baptism for later in life. The idea was that a person could be baptized on his or her deathbed. The Church did NOT recommend this practice. The sacraments with their grace, provide a shield against evil. Augustine's baptism was delayed multiple times, which he later lamented. His mother catechized him well. He knew his prayers and the truths of the faith at a very young age. Augustine wrote his famous phrase "our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee" in part because he realized how far he had fallen from the faith of his youth.

Saint Augustine was a gifted student and his father, Patricius, wanted to give him the best education possible. Patricius sent young Augustine to the town of Madaura which was 20 miles away. It was considered one of the most pagan places in Africa. Monica had the same concerns that many modern Catholic parents have when sending a child off to college: "Will he or she leave the faith, if I'm not there?" Even though Monica prayed endlessly for her son, Augustine, he eventually gave into the worldly temptations of his new environment. Meanwhile, Monica's witness to her faith was enough to spark a conversion in her mother-in-law and in her husband. Augustine returned from Maduara and was present when Particius entered the Church. However, when Monica tried to convince her oldest son to return to Jesus, he rejected her request.

Augustine stayed in his hometown for a year while Patricius attempted to save money to send his son to Carthage for more education. It caused Monica pain when Augustine spent most of his time with his pagan friends. Full of pride, he tried to impress his companions by appearing as evil as they were.

Augustine wrote about an infamous story in his work "Confessions." He recounted the time that they came across a pear tree of a poor neighbor. Even though the fruit wasn't good, they picked the tree clean and threw it to the pigs. Augustine related that they did it just for the thrill of committing evil. Patricius's health severely declined. A wealthy man named Romanianus gave the dying man a large sum of money to send Augustine off to school in Carthage. Patricuis died soon after. Monica, seeing the moral decline of their son prayed that if Augustine fostered his intellect the truth of God's love would finally reach his heart again.

At the age of 17, Augustine departed for Carthage and Monica prayed that he didn't become further corrupted by the worldly city. He excelled in his studies and started to feel a pull from God, but was still more impressed by the philosophies of the pagans, especially Cicero. It was around this time that Augustine started his nine-year journey with the Christian-hating manichaeists. Augustine later reflected on what made the manichaeists so attractive: "a man was not responsible for his sins."

Manichaeism: A heresy that claims that there are two gods. One god is purely good and spiritual. The other god is purely evil and material. In this worldview the two gods are in an eternal battle. If you're good you help the good god, and if you're bad you help the evil god.

Augustine returned home and soon gained pupils who followed his teachings. Monica, aware of what he was teaching, implored him to see the errors of his ways and return to Christ. He rejected her and continued to teach error. One day, one of his friends came down with a fever. His parents had him baptized and he miraculously recovered. However, a few days later this friend relapsed and died. Augustine was struck with grief. Augustine had just lost Patricius before he departed for school. Soon everything in his hometown reminded him of his late father and it pushed him further into a deep depression.

Augustine wrote a couple of works as a coping mechanism to deal with the death of his friend. He started to question Manicaenism. In an effort to get some answers he talked to a local bishop, but wasn't satisfied. He then decided that he needed to travel to Rome in pursuit of the truth. Monica was strongly against his desire to do this. She thought of Rome as a "modern Babylon" and knew that the blood of the Christians was poured everywhere on Roman soil. She resolved to go with him, but Augustine tricked her. He boarded a ship in the middle of the night and sailed to Rome.

For a brief moment he was attracted by the teachings of the Catholic priest, Helpidius. He was interested in Catholicism again, but decided against it because he thought their ideals were too high and their rules were too strict. Besides, the manichaeists told him the Catholics were unintelligent. Augustine, decided to join a school of philosophers who professed to believe nothing.

Augustine looked for work in Rome and eventually won a contest to become a state-supported professor. Because of this prestigious position, he was able to meet the well-regarded bishop, Ambrose. The eventual Saint Ambrose was known for his holiness. However, Augustine was more interested in Ambrose's reputation as a great orator. Soon Augustine began to attend Ambrose's lectures. Soon, he realized that Ambrose was speaking the truth and Augustine left Manicaenism behind.

Monica was determined that Augustine return to the Catholic Church before her death. She followed him to Italy. To her delight, she learned that Augustine was no-longer a Manicaenist. Augustine and Monica now attended church together. Augustine found a group of Christian brothers in Milan to study the faith with. He was soon convicted that the Catholic Church was the true Church. Augustine didn't feel worthy and couldn't quite detach himself yet from a life of self-indulgence.

Initially, Augustine only entered church buildings when there was a sermon to be heard. But as his anxiety increased, he visited the chapels and began conversations with the Lord for consolation. One day while studying the scriptures with one of his friends, Augustine was still struggling with the battle of good and evil within his soul. He broke down and cried to God for help. He heard a child's voice say "take and read." So Augustine picked up the Scripture and read "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Suddenly Augustine was full of conviction and strength. He decided then and there to give up everything to follow God. Augustine's conversion was complete.

Augustine was full of joy and went to find Monica. He decided to give up his professorship and prepare for his Baptism. After receiving instruction from Ambrose in the Lenten season of 387AD, Monica's prayers for her son's full conversion were finally answered as she watched his Baptism on Easter Vigil of that year.

I beg of You, my God, let me know You and love You so that I may be happy in You. And though I cannot do this fully in this life, yet let me improve from day to day till I may do so to the full. Let me know You more and more in this life, that I may know You perfectly in heaven.

Let me know You more and more here, so that I may love you perfectly there, so that my joy may be great in itself here, and complete in heaven with You. O Truthful God, let me receive the happiness of heaven which You promise so that my joy may be full. In the meantime, let my mind think of it, let my tongue talk of it, let my heart long for it, let my mouth speak of it, let my soul hunger after it, let my flesh thirst after it, let my whole being desire it, until such time as I may enter through death into the joy of my Lord, there to continue forever, world without end. Amen

Source: Association of the Miraculous Medal