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Homily for the Memorial of Saint Monica

 Today is the memorial of Saint Monica. She lived in the fourth century and is famous as the mother of Saint Augustine. She prayed for his conversion. God granted him the grace of a profound conversion, and he became one of the greatest saints of the Church. Today we have a Pope who is an Augustinian.

Two points from today's readings and Gospel, based on the life of Saint Monica.

One. “Trustworthy is God.”

What does this mean? For our whole life, trustworthy is God — in the midst of our tribulations, illnesses, obstacles, and so on. God will not allow a suffering greater than what we can bear. In our sufferings, God does not abandon us, but gives us the grace and the strength to go forward.

When Saint Monica faced a crisis, she did not cease to fear the Lord, but turned to God with all her strength. If we fear the Lord, we will receive many, many blessings.

Two. “Stay ready.”

Stay ready, because at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man is coming. We are called to become faithful and prudent servants, not wicked servants. Like the faithful and prudent servant, Monica remained watchful, providing spiritual food for her whole family — for her mother-in-law, her husband and her son — through her prayer.

Let us pray in this Eucharist that we too may receive this special grace: like Saint Monica, to be faithful and prudent servants, to remain faithful to the Lord in our difficulties, and to turn to Him with all our strength.

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