Religious Figure. Saint. She was a Roman Catholic saint and known for exhibiting the power of a mother's love. She was the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose writings are the primary source of any information about her.
A Christian from birth, she was given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. Three children were born to her and Patricius: Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Unfortunately, she was unable to baptize her children since her husband was not a believer. She prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband, who converted on his deathbed, and of her son, who converted after a wild life. Her feast day is August 27th.
Saint Monica was buried at Ostia, though her body was removed during the 6th century to a hidden crypt in the church of Santa Aurea in Osta. Her relics were later transferred to the Augustinian Basilica of Sant'Agostino in Rome. Anicius Bassus wrote Monica's funerary epitaph, which survived in ancient manuscripts. The actual stone on which it was written was rediscovered in the summer of 1945 in the church of Santa Aurea. Translated from Latin to English it reads: "Here the most virtuous mother of a young man set her ashes, a second light to your merits, Augustine. As a priest, serving the heavenly laws of peace, you taught [or, you teach] the people entrusted to you with your character. A glory greater than the praise of your accomplishments crowns you both - Mother of the Virtues, more fortunate because of her offspring."
Religious Figure. Saint. She was a Roman Catholic saint and known for exhibiting the power of a mother's love. She was the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose writings are the primary source of any information about her.
A Christian from birth, she was given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. Three children were born to her and Patricius: Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Unfortunately, she was unable to baptize her children since her husband was not a believer. She prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband, who converted on his deathbed, and of her son, who converted after a wild life. Her feast day is August 27th.
Saint Monica was buried at Ostia, though her body was removed during the 6th century to a hidden crypt in the church of Santa Aurea in Osta. Her relics were later transferred to the Augustinian Basilica of Sant'Agostino in Rome. Anicius Bassus wrote Monica's funerary epitaph, which survived in ancient manuscripts. The actual stone on which it was written was rediscovered in the summer of 1945 in the church of Santa Aurea. Translated from Latin to English it reads: "Here the most virtuous mother of a young man set her ashes, a second light to your merits, Augustine. As a priest, serving the heavenly laws of peace, you taught [or, you teach] the people entrusted to you with your character. A glory greater than the praise of your accomplishments crowns you both - Mother of the Virtues, more fortunate because of her offspring."
Bio by: Jim Ditton
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