Saint Monica was a woman of great strength. Being well educated, and baptized in her teens, she was married by arrangement to a local government official. Patricius was his name, and violent tempered was his disposition.
Many women are battered by husbands they trusted in marriage, but how many remain married? When a husband belittles his wife, the wife is scorned as Our Lord was scorned by His people Israel. The relationship of Jesus and His Church is the image of husband and wife. The marriage of husband and wife is symbolic to Christians of when the Bride-Groom returns for His Church at the end of earthly time. The Bride, pure of heart , walking in great trust, her whole heart to the Groom , adorned in the most beautiful costume of jewels, veils, and creamy skin to the touch. Christians are to walk to their Lord, beautifully adorned, veiled and pure of heart, offering Her whole heart to Him, with complete Trust. The sight of a bride is always a wonderful sight to behold, but more beautiful when contemplating the deeper meaning of God's Love for His people.
Trust. Multiple times Our Lord appeared to Saint Faustina expressing our need to Trust in Him. As individual brides, we walk slowly, falling, battling the world around us, but Jesus says to Trust in Him. He stands at the end of a tunnel, saying Trust, Trust, Trust. He asked for us to recite, "Jesus I Trust in You, Jesus I trust in You, Jesus, I Trust in You. Keeping this in mind, let's go back to Saint Monica.
Saint Monica, could be viewed as a woman of great Trust in Jesus. How else could she endure a violent tempered husband and a wayward, adult son? She battled the enemies of this earth with great courage, but only because she had the gift of Trusting Our Lord. Who can endure the tunnel of darkness if the light of Jesus was not at the other end beckoning us to keep walking?
Monica's Mothers prayer cell was formed to reach out to Mothers who want to pray for their children, wayward or not. Mothers with difficult husbands is part of the dynamics. Mothers need to find that light at the end of the tunnel in order to go on. I hope and pray that Monica's Mothers Prayer cell, under the direction of The World Apostolate of Fatima, will bring the gifts of strength, courage, and Trust to all mothers who join in prayer. Whether one has a difficult husband or not, praying for our husbands is part of the duty of a wife: the participation of the salvific calling in the Sacrament of Marriage, helping our husbands walk to the Lord.
Following the devotion of Our Lady of Fatima's requests, results in the ultimate goal of the conversion of all hearts toward Our Groom in Heaven, whom we all await.
NOVENA PRAYER TO ST MONICA
Dear St. Monica, wife and mother, who bore many sorrows. Teach me never to despair or lose faith. Share with me your confidence persistence and steady faith, as you prayed only to bring your husband, Patricius and your son Augustine to the Lord.
Intercede for me, dear St Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for (mention your petition here) - but grant me the grace to accept His will in all things, whatever it may be - through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
