Prayer to St Monica for all mothers 

O Heavenly Father, we thank You for our mothers to whom You have entrusted the care of every precious human life from its very beginning in the womb.

You have given to woman the capacity of participating with You in the creation of new life. Grant that every woman may come to understand the full meaning of that blessing, which gives her an unlimited capacity for selfless love for every child she may be privileged to bear, and for all Your children.

Watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your fatherly care and love for her and for her unborn baby. Give her courage in times of fear or pain, understanding in times of uncertainty and doubt, and hope in times of trouble. Grant her joy in the birth of her child.

To mothers You have given the great privilege and responsibility of being a child's first teacher and spiritual guide. Grant that all mothers may worthily foster the faith of their children, following the example of Mary, Elizabeth, Monica and other holy women who follow Christ. Help mothers to grow daily in knowledge and understanding of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and grant them the wisdom to impart this knowledge faithfully to their children, and to all who depend upon them. St Monica intercede for all mothers that they may learn to draw their children to God.

Assist all "spiritual mothers", those who, though they may have no children of their own, nevertheless selflessly care for the children of others -- of every age and state in life. Grant that they may know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women, whether in teaching, nursing, religious life, or in other work which recognizes and fosters the true dignity of every human being created in Your image and likeness.

We beseech You to send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children that have died, are ill or estranged from their families, or who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help grieving mothers to rely on Your tender mercy and fatherly love for all your children.

We ask your blessing on all those to whom You have entrusted motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit constantly inspire and strengthen them. May they ever follow the example of Mary, mother of Our Lord, and imitate her fidelity, her humility, and her self-giving love. May all mothers receive Your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. AMEN.

St Monica’s Vocation of Tears

St Monica had a “vocation of tears” as Fr Gerald Vann (OP) wrote, what did he mean by this?  To be a disciple of Christ is to carry the Cross, as Jesus told His disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."(Mt 16:24) We cannot lift our cross without the expectation of sacrifice and suffering and perhaps real tears. When those sacrifices and tears are offered for the eternal salvation of an immortal soul, as Monica offered them for Augustine, they become redemptive tears. We discover in this mystery of redemptive suffering one of the most beautiful privileges that Jesus grants to His followers: the chance to continue the work given by God the Father to God the Son, work achieved through the mystery of the Cross. It is at once inspiring and humbling to realize that the salvation of others may depend in part on our own prayers and penances.

The life of St Monica gives hope to those parents whose children are not practicing Catholics. Furthermore, we should note that Monica did not counter Augustine's impiety and disbelief with weighty arguments and brilliant logic. "God harkened to the tears of Monica," as Fr. Vann (OP) wrote. For parents who find themselves in the same position as St Monica, they need only follow the example of her tears, her prayers and her penances and leave the rest to the mercy of God.

Prayer to St Monica 

O Lord who taught Monica to persevere for the good for her family,
help me to be a better parent to my children.
Help me to have patience with them when they misbehave

and give me the strength to guide them gently to the right path.

Permit me always to forgive their misdeeds
and keep me from speaking harshly or punishing unwisely.
Please help me to be a beacon of goodness for them
as they grow to adulthood and to be a good example to them
in all that I say and do.  I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.