Holiness Runs in the Family: St. Monica (c. 332 – 387) is the Patron Saint of alcoholics, conversion, mothers and wives. As many of us know, raising faithful children is not always easy. For St. Monica, it seemed nearly impossible. Her husband was not Christian and often mocked her faith. Their son, Augustine, fell quickly into wild ways. He and his friends drank and stole. St. Monica never stopped praying for Augustine, no matter how far he strayed.
Augustine became swept up in heresy, a false form of Christianity. He lived with a mistress and had a child out of wedlock. All the while, St. Monica kept praying. Conversion came slowly to Augustine, but at age 32, he was finally baptized. Augustine would go on to become a priest, then bishop, then world-renowned theologian.
Let us make St. Monica our Saint of the Week by following her example of always praying for our loved ones, and to remain dedicated to our faith. Visit St Monica Parish in Whitefish Bay for Mass, prayer and reflection.
Saint Monica, pray for us!
