St. Monica on Mother's Day

St. Monica is the patron saint of married women and of mothers. She is the example of patient prayer, fasting and praying for her son Augustine's conversion for years. St. Monica also prayed for years for the conversion of her pagan husband and mother-in-law. All three eventually converted.

Mother's Day has become a rather saccharine holiday when in fact, motherhood itself is far from easy. Motherhood requires patience and persistence, suffering and silence.

Both Our Lady and St. Monica knew this. Both went to that private inner place to pray for their sons who they knew would need divine grace in order to survive in this world.

For the times when motherhood keeps us up at night, either literally or figuratively, both St. Monica and Mary, the Mother of Jesus are there, praying with us for our children.