Monica (or Monnica) (331 387) is a Christian saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo, who wrote extensively of her
virtues and his life with her in his Confessions. Monica was of Berber descent. She was born in Roman Africa. Her
parents brought her up as Christian and married her to an older pagan man named Patricius, a curialis of Thagaste
(located in modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria). He was a man of kindness, but also a man given to violent tempers and
adultery. Augustine reports that despite the prevalence of domestic violence at the time, because of her obedience to
him, Monica was never beaten by Patricius. Initially, she got on poorly with her mother-in-law, but Monica won her
over by her respectfulness, patience, and gentleness. Monica attended Holy Mass daily and cultivated the virtue of
patience. She advised other wives, who were beaten, to hold their tongues around their husbands, rather than proudly
withstand them. Eventually, she converted Patricius to Christianity and calmed his violent nature. Monica bore three
children, among them Augustine. Augustine made her very happy with his successes as a scholar and teacher, but he
also made her very ashamed with his debauchery. For ten years, Augustine lived with his mistress and subscribed to
Manichaeism. Monica sent Augustine to a bishop to be convinced of his errors. The bishop, however, was unable to
prevail, and he advised St. Monica simply to continue to pray for her son. He told her, "it cannot be that the son of
these tears should perish." When her spouse Patricius died, Monica joined Augustine in Italy. There, some time later,
she had the pleasure of seeing her son, at the age of 33, converted and baptized by Ambrose. Not long after, as she
was preparing to return to Africa, she died at the age of 56 at the port of Ostia. As recounted by Augustine, before
she died she told him: "There was indeed one thing for which I wished to tarry a little in this life, and that was
that I might see you an orthodox Christian before I died. My God hath answered this more than abundantly, so that I
see you now made his servant and spurning all earthly happiness. What more am I to do here?"
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