Thursday, August 27, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Monica

(I Corinthians 1:1-9; Matthew 24:42-51

“’Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing (his duty),’” Jesus tells his disciples in today’s gospel. He is describing how they should live until his return in glory.  Faithful disciples keep their baptismal promises.  That is, each one in his or her own way becomes priest, prophet, and king in the world.

In his autobiography, Saint Augustine writes of his mother, Saint Monica, as a worthy disciple.  She fulfilled her duty to God and family by encouraging both her sons to live
Christian lives.  This went far beyond telling them to do the right thing.  It included constant prayer and bringing them resources to facilitate practice of the faith.

St. Monica has become one of the more popular saints because of the great number of Catholics who have left the Church.  Their parents are often praying, like St. Monica, that they return to the sacraments.  It is a considerable objective because our society world has largely lost religious sensibility. People consider success having a high-paying job, being well considered in the community, and enjoying parties and pastimes.  God will not disappoint petitioners, but in regard to sons and daughters who no longer consider faith important, the prayer must be assiduous. 

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