The Power of Tears: Monica’s Journey to Save Augustine – Aug 27 – Homily – Fr Jacinto

Fr Jacinto Chapin Chapin gives the homily, on how St. Monica's unwavering prayers, sacrifices, and tears for decades ultimately led to the conversion of her husband and her son, St. Augustine, inspiring all who pray for loved ones to return to Christ and the Church.

The homily celebrates St. Monica, born in 332, a faithful wife and mother. She married a pagan, Patricius, whose conversion and baptism on his deathbed were attributed to her prayers and virtuous life. Her son, Augustine, however, became a catechumen but quickly succumbed to sin and various heresies, particularly Manichaeism, which denied Christ's divinity and the goodness of material creation, thus rejecting the Church's sacramental system. St. Monica never lost hope, following Augustine to Italy, praying and weeping for him for many years. In Milan, she befriended St. Ambrose, who encouraged her with the words, "It is impossible that a son of so many tears should be lost." Monica's persistence is likened to the widow in the Gospels whose son Jesus raised, as Augustine was spiritually brought back from the "death throes of sin and heresy." He fully converted, becoming a priest, bishop, saint, and one of the most important Doctors of the Church, known as the Doctor of Grace. Pope St. John Paul II observed that Monica was "twice mother" to Augustine, giving him physical birth and winning for him the Catholic faith. St. Monica, who died in 387, is a patroness of married women, a model for Christian mothers, and an inspiration for all praying for loved ones in need of conversion or reversion. The homily stresses that a lifetime of prayer, sacrifice, and tears for a soul's salvation is always worth it.

Pope Pius XII – Pray through Mary for priests restored to ministry – https://airmaria.com/go/Gn9VwX
Pope Leo XIII – Mary upholds Catholic faith through Rosary devotion – https://airmaria.com/go/eiJ7gV
Pope Pius X – Seek charity on Immaculate Conception feasts amid Christ's foes – https://airmaria.com/go/uWMEHG
Pope Gregory XVI – Pray humbly to God for Church and flock – https://airmaria.com/go/gCZVkL
Pius XI – Mary's patronage guards Church against errors in history – https://airmaria.com/go/HVdkm6

Luke 18:7 – God hears persistent prayers of His elect – https://airmaria.com/go/a2rLJe
James 5:16 – Fervent prayer of righteous person effective – https://airmaria.com/go/4qgsXu
CCC 1428 – Conversion: lifelong task, turning to God – https://airmaria.com/go/r6GE7H
CCC 2226 – Parents' primary duty: educating children in faith – https://airmaria.com/go/GDnjTr
CCC 2635 – Intercession: asking on behalf of another – https://airmaria.com/go/DSKfbW

00:00 - Introduction to St. Monica
00:01:42 - St. Augustine's Path of Sin and Heresy
00:03:49 - St. Ambrose's Prophetic Words
00:04:09 - Augustine's Spiritual Rebirth
00:05:38 - St. Monica: Mother Twice Over
00:06:37 - St. Monica: Patroness of Loved Ones in Need
00:07:27 - The Worth of Lifelong Prayer and Sacrifice
00:08:03 - Seeking St. Monica's Intercession

Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday in the 21st Week in Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082726.cfm
1st: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 - Thanksgiving in Corinth
Resp: Psalms 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 - Greatness and Goodness of God
Gsp: Matthew 24:42-51 - Parable of the Faithful Servant

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=927

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqtA1d75XEg