St. Monica Novena :: Day 7

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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.

~~ 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.

 (3) Hail Mary

 (3) Glory Be

St. Monica, pray for us

St. Monica Novena :: Day 6

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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.

~~ 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 traveled 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.

(3) Hail Mary 
(3) Glory Be

St. Monica, pray for us.

St. Monica Novena :: Day 5

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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.

~~ 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.

(3) Hail Mary 
 (3) Glory Be

St. Monica, pray for us.

St. Monica Novena :: Day 4

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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.

~~ The 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.


(3) Hail Mary 
(3) Glory Be
St. Monica, Pray For Us

St. Monica Novena :: Day 3

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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.

~~ Second 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.

(3) Hail Mary 

(3) Glory Be

St. Monica, pray for us.

St. Monica Novena :: Day 2

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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.

~~ 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 Prayer

(3) Hail Mary 

(3) Glory Be

St. Monica, pray for us.

Novena to St. Monica :: 2013

Mother of St. Augustine of HippoSt. Monica was born into a Christian family in Tagaste, Algeria, across the Mediterranean Sea from Rome, in 332 AD. She married a pagan, a minor Roman government official named Patricius. Christians were few and far between in those days. The marriage was blessed with three children, the oldest and most famous was Augustine.

Patricius was not a model husband yet Monica prayed ceaselessly for his conversion. Her sweet piety, patience, and persistence paid off. One day, Patricius accepted baptism but he died a year after.
     Her son Augustine was a constant concern for Monica. Brilliant and likable, Augustine followed the example of his father. He refused to accept baptism and lived a passionate life with his mistress. For years Monica prayed, fasted, and cried silently for Augustine.
     God was listening. He heard and finally answered these prayers of this faithful mother. Augustine, abandoning his sinful ways, accepted baptism from St. Ambrose of Milan, on Easter Sunday, 387 AD.
     Augustine's mother, St. Monica, died shortly after at the age of 55, secure in the knowledge that her son had heard God's call and her work on earth was finished.
St. Monica is the patroness of troubled parents, battered wives, despondent mothers, widows, and alcoholics. Her feast is celebrated on August 27.

~~ Daily Prayer ~~

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats 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 favorably 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. 

~~ 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.

(3) Hail Mary 

 (3) Glory Be

St. Monica, pray for us.

Sweet 16!!

16 years ago today at exactly 5:35 am

A baby girl was born

and we, 

The Lineman and I,

became parents!

It's amazing to see that a remarkable young lady grow and form before our very eyes.  Lucy is kind, talented, mature, and a much better 16 year old than I was {blush}.

Happy Birthday mija,

You are a joy to our hearts and a gift to our family.

Heavenly Father,
We praise You for all Your gifts to us.
In a special way,
We thank You for (Lucy).
Bless her always in Your love.
Bless us too, Holy Father,
And this food with which we celebrate.
Help us all to praise You and give You glory
Through Jesus Christ our lord.

Amen.

Mailboxes and a prayer

In tribute to my hubby, 

The Lineman

This isn't our mailbox though, this one belongs to The Lineman's friend...

He kindly shared it with me for this post.  I thought it was a pretty unique way of showing the lineman pride.  Nothing I would really want in my front yard, but hey I get why the guys from the department like it.

Tomorrow, my hubby is going under the knife; surgery on his right shoulder for a rotator cuff tear.  He's nervous, I'm nervous

we are ALL nervous around here.

Any prayers out his way would be greatly appreciated.