St. Monica

Saint Monica was born in 322 at Tagaste in Algeria. She was the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose writings about her are the primary source of our information. A Christian from birth, she was given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. She prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband, who converted on his death bed, and of her son, who converted after a wild life.

She was a spiritual student of Saint Ambrose of Milan. She died in 387 at Ostia, Italy.

Monica is a patron of alcoholics, married women, mothers, and widows. Her Feast Day is August 27.