Tomorrow (August 27) is the feast day of Saint Monica, the revered patron saint of mothers and wives.
In her honor, holy masses will be held at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila at 5:30 a.m. 7 a.m., and at 5:30 p.m. The praying of the holy rosary and novena will precede the evening mass.
The faithful, particularly the elderly, are advised to follow the celebration online as only 30 persons or 10 percent of the church capacity will be allowed inside the church. There will be a virtual blessing of mothers after each mass.
Commemorative masses will also be held in Sta. Monica, Surigao del Norte; Alburquerque, Bohol; Taytay, Palawan; Minalin, Pampanga; Pavia, Iloilo; Botolan, Zambales; Panay, Capiz; and in Angat, Bulacan.
St. Monica is the mother of one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints, St. Augustine (San Agustin), the founder of the Augustinian Order, whose feast day will be observed on Friday, August 28. Considered as a great model for Christian mothers, she converted her wayward son, St. Augustine, as well as her pagan husband and his mother, through intense praying and fasting.
St. Augustine wrote about his mother’s pious acts and his life with her in Confessions.
Born in Tagaste, North Africa in the year 331, St. Monica was a staunch devotee of the Blessed Mother. She was admired for her patience, perseverance, prayerful disposition, and deep faith. She died in the year 387 in Ostia, Italy where she was buried.