Friday FOCUS August 29, 2025
A Mother's Prayers
Christina (Tina) McKinlay
August 28, 2025
St. Monica,
Mother of Augustine of Hippo
A Mother’s Prayers
Reflection on Monica and John 16. 20-24
On August 27th (Wednesday of this week), we remembered Monica, a woman of 4th century North Africa, and the mother of Augustine of Hippo.
In many ways, Monica was the prototypical helicopter parent. She was a devout Christian, regular in her prayers and careful in raising her children to be Christians as well. However, her eldest son Augustine wandered away from the Church in his youth and came under the spell of an outlaw sect known as the Manichees.
The Manichees taught that there were two competing forces in the world: a force for good, and a force for evil. They taught that human beings could not be held responsible for their actions because they were simply caught between these two forces.
This was no doubt a convenient teaching for Augustine—who began to live a very hedonistic lifestyle when he left home to attend school in Italy. His first book, ‘The Confessions,’ details his life of wine, women, and song as a youth.
It’s a long book—Augustine had a lot to confess.
Monica, however, refused to give up on her son, and tried to get others to ‘argue him out’ of his infatuation with Manichean teachings.
She once approached a bishop who told her that, given time, her son would certainly outgrow his false opinions. But Monica would not be soothed and continued her entreaties.
The bishop finally groaned: “Woman, go away from me now! As sure as you live, it is impossible that a son of such tears should perish!”
Unwilling to leave matters to chance, the indefatigable Monica left North Africa and went to live with her son in Milan. She convinced him to abandon his mistress (with whom he had a son) and attempted to pair him up with the respectable daughter of a Roman office holder.
Although Augustine did renounce Manicheanism, he was unable to bring himself to become a Christian—no matter how much he wished to please his mother. Eventually, he did have a conversion experience, renounced his debaucherous lifestyle, and became a Christian.
Monica had the supreme joy of beholding the fulfillment of her prayers at the Easter Vigil in the year 387, when Augustine was baptized at the basilica of Milan.
Shortly afterwards, he decided to return to North Africa with his mother; but while they were waiting for a ship to take them across the Mediterranean, Monica fell ill. It was soon clear that she was dying, and Augustine became anxious, knowing she had always wanted to be buried in North Africa.
She told him not to worry, saying, “Nothing is far from God; I need not fear that he will know where to raise me up at the end of the world.”
A few days later she died, at peace with God, the Church, and her son. Augustine continued, with his illegitimate son, back to his hometown of Hippo.
Impressed to have such a learned man among them, the people of Hippo invited Augustine to become their bishop. Augustine refused. Not only had he not been ordained, but he also wanted to lead a quiet life. The people, however, continued to entreat Augustine.
Eventually he relented, trained for the priesthood, and was made bishop. He wrote some of the most monumental texts in Christian theology. By all accounts, Augustine was a much loved and faithful bishop.
The Gospel for the day (John 16. 20-24) reminds us how God loves each of us like a mother loves her child, and will endure any pain or sacrifice required to keep her child safe and healthy.
And, just as a mother finds joy in her children, so God experiences joy every time we turn to God. Like a mother dotes on her children, so God dotes on us and is prepared to do anything for us, whenever we call.
Rev. Norman+