Today is the feast of Monica, a Christian woman who lived in the mid 300's in Northern Africa and was married to a man named Patricius, a non believer. Tomorrow, August 28th, is the feast of one of her children, Augustine, a Doctor of the Church and the Bishop of Hippo in Africa. Augustine is well known and esteemed as a saint of God. I believe that Patricius also embraced the faith before his death. An ideal family, living the faith that God placed in their hearts.
Wrong! Tradition tells us that Patricius treated Monica, as most men of his time did, as his property. He may or may not have been abusive, but it definitely was not a life of respect and honor for her. One tradition says that she may have had a bit of a drinking problem for awhile?
Patricius insisted that Augustine and his siblings be well educated and "free" of the superstitious belief of religion, insisting that he could make up his own mind when he was of age. Augustine had a wild streak and his rebellion had few limitations. He ran away from home, lived a reckless life of immorality and gambling and sexual excess. He embraced heresies of the day that allowed him to thumb his nose at the faith of his mother. He brought his girlfriend home to live, fathered a child outside of marriage, and was best described as a "wild thing". Monica prayed for him constantly.
One day while in Milan, he overheard a portion of a sermon of the bishop there - Ambrose (saint). It touched his heart and stirred his mind. He sought out Ambrose, who brought him to Christ and the Church. This conversion was so inspiring that the people of God called him as a leader as the Bishop of Hippo. The rest is, as they say, history.
Hardly an ideal family, yet definitely a source of inspiration for families that struggle and for parents of faith. How often have parents asked me what they can do about the child/children who are on a quest without direction. I point out Monica and Augustine as models of what can happen when trust in God is deep.
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