Saint Monica
Today is the memorial of Saint Monica, beleaguered mother of Saint Augustine, whose feast is tomorrow. I’ve had many occasions to pray for her intercession, but since last year, this day has hit a little differently for me.
In the modern Roman calendar, her memorial is listed simply as that of “Saint Monica”, but before the calendar reform of the 1970s, she was listed as “Saint Monica, Widow”. I never understood why widows had their own designation. Other categories of saints listed on the calendar made sense to me.
- Saint Augustine, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church.
- Saint Luke, Evangelist.
- Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr.
- Saint James, Apostle.
- Saint Benedict, Abbot.
- Saint Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.
- Saint Monica…. Widow?
All of the other titles involved some heroic virtue or service to the people of God. But widow? What heroic sanctity is there in an accident of loss? I certainly understood the Biblical and Traditional care for widows. It’s right there in both the Old and New Testaments1. The Lord loves a widow.
That passage from 1 Timothy describes a “real widow” as one “who has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day”. And maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s the heroic virtue of a “real” widow. Of Saint Monica.
And I continue to pray for that.
Dear Saint Monica,
troubled wife and mother,
many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime.
Yet, you never despaired or lost faith.
With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion
of your beloved husband, Patricius,
and your beloved son, Augustine;
your prayers were answered.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience,
and trust in the Lord.
Intercede for me, dear Saint Monica,
that God may favorably hear my plea for
the conversion of my children
and grant me the grace to accept His Will in all things,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
