St Monica

Monica didn’t have a choice who she married, it was arranged for her by her family. So she was married to a man who was important in their country, but who did not believe in God. He also had a very bad temper, which made life very hard for Monica. Her husband’s mother also lived with them and she did not believe in God either. Even though it was difficult, Monica had a very strong faith in God and she prayed very hard that her family would know Jesus. She had 3 children, Perpetua, Navigius and Augustine, and she raised them to know and love Jesus. Through Monica’s love, example and patience, her husband and his mother did finally come to believe in Jesus, shortly before they died. Two of her three children, Perpetua and Navigius, also grew up to love Jesus and joined religious orders. Augustine led a very sinful life and it took a very long time for him to learn to love Jesus. Monica spent 17 years of her life praying for him, worrying about him and watching out for him to make sure that he would one day know Jesus. She followed him to Rome so that she could continue praying for him and watch out for him, until finally Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose. Monica, so happy to finally see her whole family following Jesus, died later in the same year that Augustine gave his life to Jesus. She must have rejoiced so much in Heaven to see Augustine live such a good life that he too became a saint.