MONICA, Saint. — Mother of St Augustine, born at Tagaste in proconsular Numidia in 331, died at Ostia in 387. Her parents were Christians; Monica’s upbringing was entrusted to an elderly nurse who had once carried her father in her arms and who often carried severity to excess. She was given in marriage to a certain Patricius, a pagan, violent and dissolute. The early years of married life were filled with bitterness, yet Monica’s patience and resignation never failed.
From this union were born three children: Augustine (q.v.), Navigius and a daughter. Little or nothing is known of the latter two; the glory of Augustine has overshadowed their lives and would have robbed Monica of hers. The figures of Augustine and Monica have passed into history as something indivisible; beyond natural life, the great convert owed to his mother the light of supernatural grace. He left unforgettable pages about her in his Confessions (I. IX).
Aware of the inevitable struggles of adolescence, Monica had brought up Augustine in the Christian faith, but in accordance with custom she deferred his baptism for fear that sacramental grace might be too soon imperilled.
Her anxiety grew daily as she saw Augustine setting out on the path of evil, though she was cheered by occasional glimpses of light, such as Patricius’s decision to receive baptism in 371. He died soon afterwards. After various vicissitudes Augustine decided to leave Africa for Rome. Monica implored him not to go, following him weeping to the harbour; but all was in vain. In 385, distraught at his absence and foreboding evil, she embarked for Italy and rejoined him at Milan. On arriving in that city she learned that Augustine had for some time been in close contact with Bishop Ambrose and was listening to his public preaching. The trial lasted long, for many obstacles had to be overcome; but at last the work of grace was accomplished. Then Monica recalled the words once spoken to her by a holy bishop: “It is impossible that the son of so many tears should perish.”
During the autumn vacation of 386 mother and son retired to the villa of Verecundus at Cassiciacum in Brianza, and after some months of true peace Augustine received baptism at Milan in 387. Towards the end of the summer they set out for Africa; but on reaching Ostia, after a few days of fever, Monica died.
Her body was buried at Ostia, and for many centuries her name remained forgotten. In 1162 there was a first translation of Monica’s relics to the church of the Augustinian Canons of Arrouaise (France), where her feast began to be celebrated on 4 May. Under Martin V in 1430 there was a second translation of the saint’s body from Ostia to Rome. Monica’s relics, first deposited in the church of S. Trifone, were later transferred to S. Agostino through the efforts of Maffeo Vegio. The existence of two translations unfortunately makes the authenticity of the relics uncertain.
Recently a notable fragment of the sepulchral inscription dictated by Anicius Auchenius Bassus has come to light. The Roman Martyrology, besides the feast of 4 May, commemorates the translation of 1430 on 9 April.