Ma Girl - St. Monica
By: Missionary Team
So, I'm pretty sure every devout Catholic that I know knows about St. Monica. If you don't, don't beat yourself up... but you should probably go look her up. She's like really cool. I don't want to tell you too much because the books written about her by legitimate authors, give her story the justice it deserves. But I wanted to share with y'all a little bit about her life and my own experience with her. She was married to Patricius, a pagan, who mistreated her daily, alongside his Mother who lived with them. Every day she bore it bravely, fought their hatred with love, and ultimately was instrumental in her Husband’s and Mother-in-law's conversion to the faith before their deaths. Not only did she endure that suffering in her marriage, but she also watched her son leave the faith and live a life of self-glory and emptiness, and after 30 years of praying, he returned to the faith. He is now one of the greatest doctors and saints of the church, St. Augustine. Knowing all this, I admired her. I admired her strength, her perseverance, her charity, and ultimately her faith. I don’t know about you, but if I had to pray for my son’s conversion for 30 years as well as live in a house where I am physically and verbally abused by my own family, I would really struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Is this all for nothing? See, before I delved deep into her story, I didn’t really feel a deep connection or devotion to her.
But this past year, I really grew in my understanding of who she is. Our community follows the Franciscan tradition of drawing from three bowls a bible scripture, a virtue, and a (saintly) companion for the year. I had never heard about it and I absolutely LOVE surprises, so I was obviously on board. And guess what saint I pulled... yep. St. Monica, ma girl! I really struggled to believe that I would be a good wife and mother. I wasn’t the best cook in my family, I have commitment issues, that I’ve struggled with but had no idea about, and some people I knew from back home weren’t very encouraging in their opinion of me and motherhood.
Needless to say, I really let fear dictate my life. But I'm really starting to see her as that role model for me. I'm starting to really see hope for my life and my vocation. That, in my worry and desire to be a great (not just good) wife and mother, I can run to St. Monica and the Blessed Mother for their guidance and intercession towards glorifying God through my vocation. That, if my children fall, marital hardships come my way, or I struggle to trust in God, I'll know there is hope amidst the struggle....and she taught me that. "Nothing is far from God!" - St. Monica
