St. Monica

  • History of st. monica

    Monica is assumed to have been born in Thagaste (present-day Souk Ahras, Algeria) in 331 AD. She was married early in life to Patricius, a decurion pagan, in Thagaste. Patricius had a violent temper and appears to have been of dissolute habits; apparently his mother exhibited similar behaviours. Monica's almsgiving, deeds and prayer habits annoyed Patricius, but it is said that he always held her in respect. Monica had three children who survived infancy: two sons, Augustine and Navigius, and a daughter, 'Perpetua' of Hippo. Unable to secure baptism for them, she grieved heavily when Augustine fell ill. In her distress she asked Patricius to allow Augustine to be baptized; he agreed, then withdrew this consent when the boy recovered. But Monica's relief at Augustine's recovery turned to anxiety as he misspent his renewed life being wayward and, as he himself says, lazy. He was finally sent to school at Madauros. He was 17 and studying rhetoric in Carthage when Patricius died. At this time she visited a certain (unnamed) bishop who consoled her with the words, "the child of those tears shall never perish." Monica followed her wayward son to Rome, where he had gone secretly; when she arrived he had already gone to Milan, but she followed him again. Here she found Ambrose and through him she ultimately saw Augustine convert to Christianity after 17 years of resistance. Monica and her son spent six peaceful months at Rus Cassiciacum (present-day Cassago Brianza) after which Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in the church of St John the Baptist at Milan. Monica and Augustine left for Africa and they set out on their journey, stopping at Civitavecchia and at Ostia. Here Monica died in 387 AD, and Augustine's grief inspired his Confessions. Her feast day is on the 27th of August. She is the patron of married women; difficult marriages; disappointing children; victims of adultery or unfaithfulness; victims of (verbal) abuse; and conversion of relatives; alcoholics

ST. MONICA CATHOLIC CHURCH

  • History of St. Monica Catholic Church

    We have endured just like our Patroness Saint who endured for Seventeen (17) years before her prayer to bring back her son Augustine to Christ was granted. Click HERE to find out how.

Parish Anthem

  • Verse 1

    Family of St. Monica, united we stand in Christ.
    Let the flow of the spirit of God
    Bring love, peace and favour on us.

    Chorus:

    Let it flow to me, let it flow to me (you, us)
    Let the spirit of God flow unto me (you, us)
    Let it flow to me, let it flow to me (you, us)
    Let the love, peace and favour on me (you, us)

    Verse 2

    May the love that brought us together as family
    Uphold, nourish and protect us
    Now, everywhere and always.

OUTSTATIONS

  • St. Jude - Agunfoye

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