Daily Prayers
Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wildthreats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favourably hear my plea for (mention your petitions here) and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.
(3) Hail Mary and (3) Glory Be
St. Monica, pray for us.
First Day
Remember dear St. Monica, the joy that flooded your heart when Augustine, the son of your prayers and tears, turned his life over to the Lord. Please present our novena petitions before God in whose presence you stand. Obtain for us, if it be his holy will, the graces we request through your intercessory power, that we may experience the happiness of answered prayer. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Second Day
Great St. Monica, patroness of fathers and mothers, please take our children, especially those who have turned from the ways of God and his Church, under your protection. Let them always remain faithful to their baptismal vows. Give them strength to walk always in the ways of the Lord, despite the temptations and false values they find in the world today. Grant that they may share with you in the joys of eternal life in God. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Third Day
O glorious St. Monica, after a lifetime of tearful prayers, fasting, and sacrifice, you were at last granted the happiness of witnessing both your husband's and son's conversion. After your son Augustine returned to the faith, you said: "God has granted this to me in more than abundance. What am I still doing here?" A few days later, you died happily at peace with God and his world. Grant us that same peace, faith, and acceptance of God's will that we may live all our years in serenity and go joyfully to our heavenly home, secure in the knowledge of eternal salvation. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Fourth Day
O glorious St. Monica, you see in our world today mothers and wives who are suffering a lot for their husbands and children. You know how they feel because you yourself underwent this same torture but you managed to breeze through all this because you believed that your problematic husband and child were challenges that God gave you. You suffered, and you prayed for them without ceasing. God touched the hearts of your husband and child, Augustine. Grant us the same perseverance and faith so that we, too, may be able to convince God. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Fifth Day
O glorious St. Monica, we present to you the stories of many mothers who are working abroad in search for a better life for their families. They sleep daily remembering their husbands and children, wishing to be near their loved ones. But they have to sacrifice in order that their children may go to school and have a better future. We ask you to protect these mothers and inspire their children to study hard. We ask your intercession that the husbands and children of these women may learn to communicate with each other and bridge the distance among them. May the physical distance that they suffer need not become a hindrance for a happy family life. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Sixth Day
O glorious St. Monica, you worked hard for the conversion of your husband and son because you wanted them to enter eternal life. Heaven was your obsession and you travelled big distances in search of your son and prayed long hours because you desired that your family may have a grand reunion in heaven. Earthly success did not at all attract you as Augustine your son became famous for his eloquence and intelligence. You wanted him to spend the rest of his life preparing for heaven, and that was precisely what you and your son did. Hearken then to our petition that the thought of heaven may pervade our life. Let not earthly success blind us. Guide us to Jesus and prepare us to our grand reunion with him. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Seventh Day
O glorious St. Monica, your son Augustine on recalling his steps towards his conversion could not forget your tears and prayers. He saw you awake during nights as you prayed to God to touch his heart and repent of his sins. He described his conversion as your work because even God could not withstand your fidelity and patience in praying for his sake. Now in heaven, we know that Jesus listens to you and would not be able to resist your prayers. Intercede for us and listen to our petitions. May we also be converted and change our bad habits into good. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Eighth Day
O glorious St. Monica, you accompanied Augustine when he was beginning a monastic life with some friends. You delighted in a life dedicated to prayer, and you were happy because you knew that your son made a good decision. You, too, wanted to spend the rest of your life praying, in close contact with Jesus. Guide us so that we may also be led to a deeper life of prayer and make prayer our life. The path to this type of life begins when we start to simplify our needs. When our hearts are calm because desires for material riches have died, then we open ourselves to a deeper life of prayer which you and your son started. Lead us to this path. Amen.
Daily Prayers
Ninth Day
O glorious St. Monica, on this last day of our novena, we bring to you the concerns of many young mothers, teenage mothers who are not yet prepared for the motherhood. Unwanted pregnancies are a big problem in our time. Many young people have to stop their schooling and assume responsibilities that they could not tackle because of this problem. Enlighten our young people and give them teachers that will make them understand that sex outside of marriage is dangerous and sinful. Inspire them to enjoy their youth without sinning and lead them to the joy of spiritual things. Amen.
Daily Prayers