St. Monica is an example of those holy matrons of the ancient Church who proved very influential in their own quiet way. Through prayer and tears she gave the great Augustine to the Church of God, and thereby earned for herself a place of honor in the history of God's kingdom on earth.

The Confessions of St. Augustine provide certain biographical details. Born of Christian parents about the year 331 at Tagaste in Africa, Monica was reared under the strict supervision of an elderly nurse who had likewise reared her father. In the course of time she was given in marriage to a pagan named Patricius. Besides other faults, he possessed a very irascible nature; it was in this school of suffering that Monica learned patience. It was her custom to wait until his anger had cooled; only then did she give a kindly remonstrance. Evil-minded servants had prejudiced her mother-in-law against her, but Monica mastered the situation by kindness and sympathy.

Her marriage was blessed with three children: Navigius, Perpetua, who later became a nun, and Augustine, her problem child. According to the custom of the day, baptism was not administered to infants soon after birth. It was as an adolescent that Augustine became a catechumen, but possibly through a premonition of his future sinful life, Monica postponed his baptism even when her son desired it during a severe illness.

When Augustine was nineteen years old, his father Patricius died; by patience and prayer Monica had obtained the conversion of her husband.

The youthful Augustine caused his mother untold worry by indulging in every type of sin and dissipation. As a last resort after all her tears and entreaties had proved fruitless, she forbade him entrance to her home; but after a vision she received him back again. In her sorrow a certain bishop consoled her: "Don't worry, it is impossible that a son of so many tears should be lost."

When Augustine was planning his journey to Rome, Monica wished to accompany him. He outwitted her, however, and had already embarked when she arrived at the docks. Later she followed him to Milan, ever growing in her attachment to God. St. Ambrose held her in high esteem, and congratulated Augustine on having such a mother. At Milan she prepared the way for her son's conversion. Finally the moment came when her tears of sorrow changed to tears of joy. Augustine was baptized. And her lifework was completed. She died in her fifty-sixth year, as she was returning to Africa. The description of her death is one of the most beautiful passages in her son's famous "Confessions.

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-08-27

Litany of St. Monica

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

 God, the Father of Heaven,
 Have mercy on us.
 God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
 Have mercy on us.
 God the Holy Spirit,
 Have mercy on us.
 Holy Trinity, one God,
 Have mercy on us.

 Response: pray for us.

 Mary, our Mother and the Mother of Jesus,
 Mary, our Mother of Consolation,
 Mary, the source of our hope,
 Mary, the refuge of sinners,
 Mary, the guiding star of our lives,
 Mary, source of strength in our weakness,
 Mary, source of light in our darkness,
 Mary, source of consolation in our sorrows,
 Mary, source of victory in our temptations,
 Mary, who leads us to Jesus,
 Mary, who keeps us with Jesus,
 Mary, who redeems us through Jesus,
 Mary, Mother of Consolation, our Patroness,

 St. Augustine, triumph of divine grace,
 St. Augustine, so faithful to grace,
 St. Augustine, glowing with pure love of God,
 St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory,
 St. Augustine, bright star in the firmament of the Church,
 St. Augustine, so great and so humble,
 St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the Faith,
 St. Augustine, vanquisher of heresy,
 St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors,
 St. Augustine, our father,

 St. Monica, devout mother of St. Augustine,
 St. Monica, whose prayers won Augustine from sin,
 St. Monica, whose prayers gave Augustine to God,
 St. Monica, pattern for wives,
 St. Monica, model of mothers and mother of saints,
 St. Monica, exemplar of widows,
 St. Monica, devoted to prayer,
 St. Monica, so patient in trials,
 St. Monica, so resigned in sorrow,
 St. Monica, so happy in death,
 St. Monica, devoted child of Mary, Mother of Consolation,

 Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
 Spare us, O Lord.
 Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
 Graciously hear us, O Lord.
 Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
 Have mercy on us.

 V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of Consolation,
 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 V. Pray for us, O holy father, Saint Augustine,
 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 V. Pray for us, O holy mother, Saint Monica,
 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all consolation, grant to Thy servants, that joyfully venerating Thy most pure Mother Mary as Our Lady of Consolation, we may be consoled by her in our sorrows, fortified in our trials through life, and in dying, may merit the ineffable consolations of Heaven for all eternity.

Amen.