HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT MONICA THE MOTHER OF ST AUGUSTINE. (1)
HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT MONICA THE MOTHER OF ST AUGUSTINE.
THEME: Nothing is Far From God (St Monica)
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 27 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Psalm 32:12-13,18-21
Matthew 25:14-30
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brethren, today we celebrate the Memorial of St Monica. She was born in the 4th century, St. Monica is recognized as the patron saint of mothers. Her faith and dedication to motherhood played a pivotal role in the spiritual formation of Saint Augustine, her son.
*A Role Model of Motherhood*
After her husband’s premature death, St. Monica dedicated her life to raising her children. As a single mother of three, she persevered in the face of many difficulties. Her greatest desire was for her children to follow Christ. Although later in life he was known as a fervent man of God, St. Augustine did not easily come to see God’s truth. As a child, he proved to be quite difficult, causing Monica much grief, and as a young adult he remained uninterested in Christianity. But St. Monica never stopped praying for his eternal soul, in spite of the circumstances. On one particular occasion, when she was discussing the matter with a priest, he urged her to remain steadfast in her prayers, stating that it was “not possible that the son of so many tears should perish.”
*WHEN GOD ANSWERED HER PRAYERS*
After many years of prayer, Saint Monica finally saw her son give his life to the service of God. St. Augustine declared that his mother’s resilience and dedication to prayer is what led him to become the man of God he was meant to be. He stated that St. Monica was not only his mother, but “the source of his Christianity.”
*THE END OF HER LIFE*
St. Monica passed away in A.D. 387, shortly after St. Augustine was baptized. Her legacy serves as a reminder for all Christians to never stop praying for those who do not yet know Christ.
*CONCLUSION*
We can be inspired today from the story and the life of St. Monica, a great saint and woman, and the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most renowned and famous early Church fathers, servant of God and Doctor of the Church.
Having inspired today with prayers and her deeds. Let us remember that, It was God Who made all those things possible. That is why even us today, we should answer God’s call with faith and conviction, and do our best to invest our time and effort in doing whatever is within our means, in living our lives for the greater glory of God.
St Monica pray for Us.
*Sources* :
1. Butler’s Lives of the Saints (ed. by Bernard Bangley)
2.Cowan, The Way of the Saints.