THE MEMORIAL OF ST MONICA, MOTHER OF ST AUGUSTINE.
THE MEMORIAL OF ST MONICA, MOTHER OF ST AUGUSTINE.
THE GOOD NEWS:
"Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say,
‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
(Matthew 23: 27 - 32).
Wednesday August 27th 2025, in the 21st Week in Ordinary Time is the Memorial of St Monica, Mother of St Augustine.
"The woman who fears the Lord will herself be praised.
Her children have called her most blessed,
her husband has sung her praises." ( Cf. Prv 31:30, 28). Entrance Antiphon.
Wednesday August 27th in the 21st Week in Ordinary Time is the Memorial of St Monica, the Mother of St Augustine, whose feast day is tomorrow August 28th.
The Entrance Antiphon from the Book of Proverbs can be aptly applied to St Monica:
"The woman who fears the Lord will herself be praised. Her children have called her most blessed, her husband has sung her praises." ( Cf. Prv 31:30, 28). Entrance Antiphon.
St Monica was born in 331 in Tagaste in modern Algeria in North Africa and died in 387 near Rome at the age of 56. Monica is the mother of St Augustine, Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church.
The Church cannot praise our saint of the day enough. Look at the Entrance Antiphon from the special Mass for St Monica. Look also at the Collect prayer to the Father.
Almighty Father accepted the motherly tears of St Monica for the conversion of the once prodigal Augustine and made Augustine a great Shepherd of souls.
St Monica also handled a difficult husband, the once alcoholic and hot tempered Patricius, a pagan and city councilor. He died a baptized Christian!
At a time when wife- beating was not considered a crime, Monica counseled her female married friends how to handle their husbands. According to Monica, despite the fact that her husband was both a pagan and alcoholic, Patricius never threatened nor abused her in any way.
The Church made Monica the patron saint of married women and a model for Christian mothers.
Who will doubt that we need many Monicas today.
We need women who are strong in Christian virtue and able to mother a Christian household.
How can the young preserve purity and chastity today? Maternal advice can go like this:
#1 Daily Prayer: Vital Necessity.
#2 Daily word of God.
#3 Frequent Holy Communion.
#4 Frequent Confession.
#5 Spiritual Reading.
O woman, if you do this, "God will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Cf 1 Corinthians 1: 9).
Jesus accused the Scribes and the Pharisees of being hypocrites in the Gospel of today.
They were like actors in a theater clamoring for the cheers and approval of the public.
Does the Church have a problem of hypocrisy today?
The World has a huge problem with truth. One may even say with the Truth, who is a person.
This had been recognized decades ago by modern prophets like Pope Benedict XVI and many sociologists.
Hypocrisy is fundamentally a masking of truth. What are some of its characteristics today?
No shame in telling lies.
No shame or apology in lying or being caught lying.
No hesitation in lying before children.
Sins of lies, perjury, defamation are minimized and may no longer be adequately covered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Church is the seed of the kingdom of God in the world.
Alas, the the Church is no longer immune from the sin of hypocrisy, lies, falsehood, perjury and defamation.
"For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4: 3 - 5).
We live in a time that seems to be marred by open rebellion against truth.
How can you "be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry"?
St Philip Neri teaches that frequent Confession will lead us to truth and humility.
The Church teaches that frequent Holy Communion will transform us into the image of the Person we receive in the Eucharist. Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Way and the Life.
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says:
"In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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