Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

We know about Monnica almost entirely from the autobiography of her son Augustine. Monnica was born in North Africa, near Carthage, in what is now Tunisia, perhaps around 331, of Christian parents, and was a Christian throughout her life. As a girl, she was fond of wine, but on one occasion was taunted by a slave girl for drunkenness, and resolved not to drink thereafter. She was married to a pagan husband, Patricius, a man of hot temper, who was often unfaithful to her, but never insulted or struck her. It was her happiness to see both him and his mother ultimately receive the Gospel.

Monnica’s son was another matter. He was an intelligent young man, and a natural leader. She had high ambitions for Augustine, but over time her ambition for his secular advancement became a deep passion for his conversion to the faith as her spiritual life became more and more deeply rooted in prayer. No matter how much he rebuffed her attempts to share the faith with him, she continued in prayer for him constantly. Eventually, Monnica’s prayers were answered, and Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in Milan at the Great Vigil of Pascha in the year 387.

After his baptism, Augustine planned to return to Africa with Monnica (and his younger brother), but in Monnica fell ill before leaving Italy. She told her son, “You will bury your mother here. All I ask of you is that, wherever you may be, you should remember me at the altar of the Lord. Do not fret because I am buried far from our home in Africa. Nothing is far from God, and I have no fear that he will not know where to find me, when he comes to raise me to life at the end of the world.”

COLLECT
O Lord, through spiritual discipline you strengthened your servant Monnica to persevere in offering her love, prayers, and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son. Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord; he who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.