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Novena to St. Monica

Day 2

10 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Monica

Opening prayer:

O glorious St. Monica, mother of tears and of unfailing hope, you never ceased to pray for those entrusted to your love. Obtain for me a heart that does not grow weary in prayer, and present my petitions before the throne of God. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 2: Patience with a difficult husband

Married to the hot-tempered pagan Patricius, Monica bore his anger and infidelities without bitterness, never answering harshness with harshness. By her quiet goodness and unwearied prayer she won him at last to baptism near the end of his life. She shows us that holiness lived steadily within the home, in patience and meekness, can soften and convert even the most hardened heart, as St. Peter taught of the believing wife.

O patient St. Monica, who overcame a hard and angry husband by gentleness and prayer, obtain for me the meekness that conquers without striving. Help me to love peace within my home, to answer wrong with kindness, and to trust that quiet goodness can open hearts that words cannot. Amen.

Today's intention:

For peace and conversion within troubled marriages and families.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Monica, who saw your prayers answered beyond all your hope, intercede for me and for all I carry in my heart. Teach me to wait upon God with patience and to trust that no tear shed for love of souls is ever wasted. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

About this prayer

A nine-day novena to St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, patroness of mothers, wives, and all who pray with tears for the conversion of those they love.

History

St. Monica (331–387) was a Christian mother in Roman North Africa who wept and prayed for seventeen years over the dissolute life of her brilliant son Augustine and the harshness of her pagan husband Patricius. Her perseverance won both their souls: Augustine became one of the Church's greatest saints, and a bishop assured her that 'the child of so many tears could never be lost.' She is honored as the model of the praying mother.

How to pray it

Pray once each day for nine consecutive days. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayer, prayerfully read the meditation and offer the day's intention, then conclude with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and the closing prayer.

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