Saint Monica
- Feast
- 27 August
- Patron of
- mothers, wives and those praying for wayward children
Monica was a Christian woman of Thagaste in North Africa, born around 331, married to a pagan husband with a hard temper who was baptised before he died. For years she prayed and wept for her son Augustine, who had turned away from the faith, and followed him to Italy. She saw him baptised in Milan in 387 and died at Ostia on the journey home.
Augustine tells her story in his Confessions, including a bishop's words to her that the son of so many tears could not be lost. Her feast falls the day before his. Painters show her in a widow's dark robes, often beside Augustine, the two of them at a window at Ostia looking up.
She prayed for her son for years without giving up and lived to see those prayers answered. A patron for any mother or godmother, and a quiet encouragement to anyone who prays for someone who has drifted away.
2 prints of Saint Monica
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Monica?
The feast of Saint Monica is kept on 27 August.
What is Saint Monica the patron saint of?
Saint Monica is the patron saint of mothers, wives and those praying for wayward children.
Is Saint Monica a good confirmation saint?
She prayed for her son for years without giving up and lived to see those prayers answered. A patron for any mother or godmother, and a quiet encouragement to anyone who prays for someone who has drifted away.
Is Saint Monica the patron saint of people named Monica?
Yes. Saint Monica is the traditional name saint for anyone called Monica, Monika and Monique, and the feast on 27 August is their name day.
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Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours