Novena to St. Monica

Day 6

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 6: Hope against all evidence

Through years of Augustine's heresy, pride, and wandering, Monica clung to hope when every sign said her prayers had failed. Like Abraham who against hope believed in hope, she refused despair even as her son sank deeper into error. She shows us that Christian hope is not mere optimism but a firm refusal to let God's mercy be smaller than our fears, anchoring the soul to the promises of One who cannot lie.

O hopeful St. Monica, who believed against all the evidence of your son's wandering, obtain for me a hope that no darkness can extinguish. When conversion seems impossible and every sign says all is lost, hold my heart fast to the boundless mercy of God, whose power is never spent. Amen.

Today's intention:

For hope to endure when conversion seems impossible.

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.