She submitted to her husband while he lived. Because of her Christian influence not only her but also the whole household, except for her husband, believed the gospel. Even though her husband was unfaithful to her she remained faithful. She submitted in all things to her husband who did not try to prevent her from teaching Augustine about God. But by the light of the faith which she received from the Lord, she saw that Augustine was spiritually dead.
Faithful in attending Church, she did not go for idle gossip but to listen to the sermons and to pray. She involved herself in the Church too, blessing many with her good works. Monica went to Church twice a day. Augustine records that she daily entreated the Lord. Like the woman in 1 Timothy 5 she ‘set her hope on God and [continued] in supplications and prayers night and day.’
Men of faith praised her. She was well-known to Bishop Ambrose and another priest said of her desire for the salvation of her son, “Go your way; as you live, it cannot be that the son of these tears should perish.” She clung to the words of the preachers.
God revealed to Monica in a vision that she would see Augustine as a Christian before she died. When she began to realise that Augustine’s heart had started to open to the message of the gospel she was fully confident that the Lord who had promised the whole would give her the rest. Although she had asked the Lord for much in all her prayers and weeping, the Lord blessed her with much more. After Augustine came to faith he praised Monica for her faithfulness.
Even while Augustine was far away from her she continued faithfully in prayer. Even when she could not see him working, Monica trusted God. Worshiping daily at the Church, Monica prayed and wept for the salvation of her son, and the Lord answered her and worked in Augustine’s heart, turning Monica’s grief into gladness.
Faithful in attending Church, she did not go for idle gossip but to listen to the sermons and to pray. She involved herself in the Church too, blessing many with her good works. Monica went to Church twice a day. Augustine records that she daily entreated the Lord. Like the woman in 1 Timothy 5 she ‘set her hope on God and [continued] in supplications and prayers night and day.’
Men of faith praised her. She was well-known to Bishop Ambrose and another priest said of her desire for the salvation of her son, “Go your way; as you live, it cannot be that the son of these tears should perish.” She clung to the words of the preachers.
God revealed to Monica in a vision that she would see Augustine as a Christian before she died. When she began to realise that Augustine’s heart had started to open to the message of the gospel she was fully confident that the Lord who had promised the whole would give her the rest. Although she had asked the Lord for much in all her prayers and weeping, the Lord blessed her with much more. After Augustine came to faith he praised Monica for her faithfulness.
Even while Augustine was far away from her she continued faithfully in prayer. Even when she could not see him working, Monica trusted God. Worshiping daily at the Church, Monica prayed and wept for the salvation of her son, and the Lord answered her and worked in Augustine’s heart, turning Monica’s grief into gladness.
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