St. Monica Novena Prayer Patron Saint of Married Women; Difficult Marriages; Disappointing Children; Victims of Adultery or Unfaithfulness, Alcoholics, Conversion, Mothers, Wives
St. Monica Novena All 9 Days.
| Novena | St. Monica Novena |
| Novena Begins | August 18 |
| Feast Day | August 27 |
| Patron Saint of | Married Women; Difficult Marriages; Disappointing Children; Victims of Adultery or Unfaithfulness, Alcoholics, Conversion, Mothers, Wives |
About St. Monika
The circumstances of St. Monica’s life could have made her a nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law, and a despairing parent, yet she did not give way to any of these temptations. Although she was a Christian, her parents gave her in marriage to a pagan, Patricius, who lived in her hometown of Tagaste in North Africa. Patricius had some redeeming features, but he had a violent temper and was licentious. Monica also had to bear with a cantankerous mother-in-law who lived in her home. Patricius criticized his wife because of her charity and piety, but always respected her. Monica’s prayers and example finally won her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity. Her husband died in 371, one year after his baptism.
Monica had at least three children who survived infancy. The oldest, Augustine, is the most famous. At the time of his father’s death, Augustine was 17 and a rhetoric student in Carthage. Monica was distressed to learn that her son had accepted the Manichean heresy—”all flesh is evil”—and was living an immoral life. For a while, she refused to let him eat or sleep in her house. Then one night she had a vision that assured her Augustine would return to the faith. From that time on, she stayed close to her son, praying and fasting for him. In fact she often stayed much closer than Augustine wanted.
When he was 29, Augustine decided to go to Rome to teach rhetoric. Monica was determined to go along. One night he told his mother that he was going to the dock to say goodbye to a friend. Instead he set sail for Rome. Monica was heartbroken when she learned of Augustine’s trick, but she still followed him. She arrived in Rome only to find that he had left for Milan. Although travel was difficult, Monica pursued him to Milan.
In Milan, Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, St. Ambrose, who also became Monica’s spiritual director. She accepted his advice in everything and had the humility to give up some practices that had become second nature to her. Monica became a leader of the devout women in Milan as she had been in Tagaste.
She continued her prayers for Augustine during his years of instruction. At Easter 387, St. Ambrose baptized Augustine and several of his friends. Soon after, his party left for Africa. Although no one else was aware of it, Monica knew her life was near the end. She told Augustine, “Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me to do or why I am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.” She became ill shortly after and suffered severely for nine days before her death.
Almost all we know about St. Monica is in the writings of St. Augustine, especially his Confessions.
St. Monica Novena Day 1
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 2
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 3
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 4
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 5
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 6
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 7
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 8
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. Monica Novena Day 9
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, You perseveringly pursued your wayward son Not with wild threats But with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day So that they may learn To draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain Close to their children, Even the prodigal sons and daughters Who have sadly gone astray. Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart During your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, You prayed daily for the conversion Of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, Patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, That God may favorably hear my plea for
(Mention your request here…)
And grant me the grace To accept his will in all things, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Prayer to St. Monica
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
under the weight of my heartful burden, I turn to you, dear Saint Monica
and request your assistance and intercession.
From your place in heaven, I beg that you will plead before the Throne of the Holy One,
for the sake of my child, [Name], who has wandered from from the faith, and
all that we have tried to teach.
I know, dear Monica, that our children belong not to us, but to God,
and that God often permits this wandering as part of one’s journey toward Him.
Your son, Augustine, wandered, too; eventually he found the faith, and came to believe,
and in that belief became a true teacher.
Help me, therefore, to have patience, and to believe that all things — even this disappointing movement away from the faith — work ultimately to His own good purposes.
For the sake of my child’s soul, I pray to understand and trust in this.
St. Monica, please teach me to persist in faithful prayer as you did for your son’s sake.
Inspire me to behave in ways that will not further distance my child from Christ, but only draw [Name] gently towards his marvelous light.
Please teach me what you know about this painful mystery of separation,
and how it is reconciled in the re-orientation of our children
toward heaven.
O Saint Monica, lover of Christ and His Church,
pray for me, and for my child [Name], that we may acquire heaven,
joining with you, there, in offering constant and thankful
praise to God. Amen.
Thanks for reading St. Monica Novena. Read Also other August Novenas.
