As I have grown in my faith, I have made close spiritual friendships with a wide variety of saints. Like many of you, I have my favorite spiritual besties who I rely on and talk with frequently.
The parish I joined several years ago bears the name and patronage of Saints Monica and Augustine, one of the most famous mother-son duos in the Church. A small, diverse African American community located in eastern Detroit, my parish has helped me get to know and appreciate the unique lives of these two saints.
An Unlikely Happy Ending
On some level, many of us have at least heard of Saints Monica and Augustine.
Augustine was born to an upper-class family around the year 354 in modern-day Algeria. His father Patricius was a pagan, who converted to Christianity on his deathbed. His mother Monica was a devout Christian and raised Augustine in the Faith.
Despite the deep faith of his mother and his Christian upbringing, Augustine abandoned the Faith of his childhood and became a Manichean. Monica was utterly destroyed. But she never let go of the hope that someday her prodigal son would return to God.
As a young man, Augustine began a long-term affair with a woman. They never married, and their relationship led to the birth of their son Adeodatus. In Latin, his name means “by God given” or “gift of God.”
Augustine was a very intelligent man, and he eventually took a position teaching rhetoric in Milan. This experience led him to engage more frequently with Christian literature and other believers.
Meanwhile, Monica unceasingly prayed for her son’s conversion.
Perseverance in Prayer
One hot summer day in 386, Augustine heard a childlike voice calling him to “take up and read.” He took this as a divine command, picked up the Bible, and opened to read the following:
“... let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” // Romans 13:13-14
Augustine was cut to the heart. The conversion his mother prayed for all those years now began in great haste.
By the next Easter Vigil, Augustine and his son were baptized by Saint Ambrose.
Augustine's radical conversion led him to become one of the most profound spiritual teachers and bishops of Western Christianity. To this day, he is one of the most beloved and prolific writers and thinkers in the history of Catholicism.
Lessons From Saints Monica and Augustine
The story of Saints Monica and Augustine holds powerful, unique lessons for us. No matter where we are in life, and no matter what sins and shortcomings we wrestle with, there are special insights and lessons we can learn from this dynamic duo.
Lessons From Saint Monica
Saint Monica teaches us hope and persistence when situations look bleak.
Hope
The theological virtue of hope shines brightly in the life of Saint Monica. She hoped against all odds for her wayward son to return to the Lord. The virtue of hope is not wishful thinking for something you desire to happen. Rather, hope is all about who God is and who we are not. It helps us grow and develop a deeper trust in Jesus, which I imagine happened to Monica as she prayed for Augustine’s conversion.
Persistence
Monica was also a fierce woman who persisted in believing her son would convert. She never gave up, and she never stopped praying and fasting for him. More importantly, she never stopped loving Augustine, even when he lived a life contrary to the Gospel.
Many of us have family members or friends away from Jesus or the Church. We wonder if our prayers make a difference and if we will see the day our loved one returns to the Lord. In these situations, Saint Monica reminds us to continue to persist in prayer and never give up. No one is too lost for the power of Jesus Christ to find them and bring them home.
Lessons From Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine teaches us two important lessons: the significance of a personal relationship with God and the reality that no person is too far gone for God.
A Personal Relationship With God
Augustine was raised in a devout Christian home, and he probably knew a lot about Jesus. But did he really know Him? It was not until he was an adult that he had a personal encounter with the Living God, which propelled a radical conversion.
Living in an increasingly secular culture, it is important to keep in mind that people do not always come to the Faith through laws and rules, but through a personal encounter with God. This encounter leads them to a place of conversion, where the laws and rules can make more sense.
No One is Too Far From God
Before Augustine’s conversion, he lived many years away from the Lord. His story reminds us that no one is outside of the mercy and healing of Jesus Christ. There is no one whose sins are too great; there is no one who is too far from God. He can reach anyone with His love, because God sees and knows the depth of every human heart, and He has the power to transform every single one of us.
Saints Monica and Augustine Lead the Way
The lives of the Saints are a powerful example of what God can do in each of our lives. They were like us in many ways, with similar struggles, issues, joys, and dreams. What set them apart, and why we can follow their lead, is that they never gave up, even when their situation seemed impossible.
Saints Monica and Augustine were no different. So, may we look to them for hope and encouragement.
Do you have a devotion to one or both of these Saints? We would love to hear about their influence on your lives in the comments!
Patty Breen serves as Ministry Formation Manager of Ascension Health and writes online in several different spaces. Her loves include CrossFit, writing and speaking, strong cups of coffee, Ignatian spirituality, and loving on her godchildren, niece, and nephew. Patty is passionate about messy and deep conversations at the intersection of faith, culture, and ministry. Find out more about her here.
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