Saint Monica

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Monica. It's a very special day in my family since my daughter is named after her. I chose Saint Monica's name because she is the epitome of patient supplication for the conversion of both her son Augustine and her husband Patricius. 
Monica was born in North Africa, she was raised as a Catholic by her devout parents. She was married to Patricius who was not a Christian and was a follower of Roman religions like Manichaeism which was a pseudo-scientific religion based on nature and the struggle between light and darkness in the cosmos. Patricius led a very promiscuous lifestyle and while was loving he was also very hot-tempered and frequently unfaithful to his wife. 
Her son Saint Augustine followed in the footsteps of his father. Which gave a double wound to Monica's motherly heart. She prayed for her son for seventeen years before he had a conversion of heart. Her husband also had a deep conversion on his death bed and he was baptized before he died. 
Here are the words of Saint Augustine about his mother: "For she had been the wife of just one husband, she had rendered the duty of respect to her parents, she had piously managed her own house, and she had earned a reputation for good works (1 Tim5:4,9-10)"
Saint Monica patron of mothers please pray for us and for our families!