Communio Sanctorum

Monica

Mother of Augustine whose patient prayer, suffering and wise love accompanied his conversion.

Feast: 27 AugustWidowNorth Africa and Italy
Historical or devotional representation associated with Monica
www.aiwaz.net · Public domain

Life and witness

Mother of Augustine whose patient prayer, suffering and wise love accompanied his conversion.

Biographical overview

Monica of Hippo (c. 332 – 387), also written as "Monnica", was an early North African Christian saint and the mother of Saint Augustine. She is remembered and honored in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, albeit on different feast days, for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly the suffering caused by her husband's adultery, and her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, who wrote extensively of her pious acts and life with her in his Confessions. Popular Christian legends recall Monica weeping every night for her son Augustine.