Memorial of Saint
Monica
(II Thessalonians 1:1-5.11-12; Matthew 23:13-22)
As many young people do not practice the faith of their
childhood, St. Monica is becoming a more popular saint. Parents turn to her as their patron and
model. Monica prayed for the conversion
of her errant son Augustine. As a young
man, the future saint pursued esoteric teachings and lived with a
mistress. In today’s first reading Paul
tells the Thessalonians how he prays for them much like Monica prayed for her
son.
Paul asks God “that the name of our Lord Jesus may be
glorified in (the Thessalonians), and (they) in him.” This indeed took
place. The Thessalonians endured trials
to maintain their faith in Christ and were to be justly rewarded for their
efforts. However, the Thessalonians’
influence on Christianity and western civilization can hardly be compared with
that of St. Augustine. He was one of the
Church’s greatest theologians. Equally important,
his introspection set intellectual thought on a psychological course that
continues today.
Above all, Monica teaches us the need for persistent,
loving prayer. She prayed for years that
Augustine might use his prodigious talents for God and the Church. Likewise, we must not give up when our
prayers are not readily answered or seem to ask too much. We need to pray until our knees bleed and our
hearts are ready to faint. Then we will
see blessings.
