The Life of Saint Monica

								


Produced by David McClamrock

THE LIFE OF SAINT MONICA
BY
F.A. [FRANCES ALICE] FORBES
THIRD EDITION
LONDON
BURNS OATES & WASHBOURNE LTD.
PUBLISHERS TO THE HOLY SEE
1928

Nihil Obstat.
EDWARDUS MYERS,
Censor Deputatus.
Imprimatur.
EDM. CAN. SURMONT,
Vicarius Generalis.
WESTMONASTERII,
die 15 Junii, 1915.

Standard-bearers of the Faith
A SERIES OF LIVES OF THE SAINTS FOR YOUNG AND OLD
SAINT MONICA

CONTENTS
CHAPTER



    I. HOW ST. MONICA WAS BROUGHT UP BY CHRISTIAN PARENTS IN THE CITY

       OF TAGASTE



   II. HOW ST. MONICA LIVED IN THE PAGAN HOUSEHOLD OF HER HUSBAND

       PATRICIUS


III. HOW ST. MONICA BROUGHT UP HER CHILDREN, AND HOW THE LITTLE

       AUGUSTINE FELL SICK AND DESIRED BAPTISM



   IV. HOW ST. MONICA BY HER GENTLENESS AND CHARITY WON PATRICIUS AND

       HIS MOTHER TO CHRIST



    V. HOW AUGUSTINE WENT TO CARTHAGE, AND HOW PATRICIUS DIED A

       CHRISTIAN DEATH



   VI. HOW ST. MONICA LIVED IN THE DAYS OF HER WIDOWHOOD, AND HOW SHE

       PUT ALL HER TRUST IN GOD


VII. HOW ST. MONICA'S HEART WAS WELL NIGH BROKEN BY THE NEWS THAT

       HER SON HAD ABJURED THE CHRISTIAN FAITH


VIII. HOW AUGUSTINE PLANNED TO GO TO ROME, AND HOW HE CRUELLY

       DECEIVED HIS MOTHER



   IX. HOW AUGUSTINE CAME TO MILAN, AND HOW HIS TEMPEST-TOSSED SOUL

       FOUND LIGHT AND PEACE AT LAST



    X. HOW ST. MONICA LIVED AT CASSIACUM WITH AUGUSTINE AND HIS

       FRIENDS, AND HOW AUGUSTINE WAS BAPTIZED BY ST. AMBROSE



   XI. HOW ST. MONICA SET OUT FOR AFRICA WITH ST. AUGUSTINE, AND HOW

       SHE DIED AT OSTIA ON THE TIBER

This book is above all things the story of a mother. But it is also
the story of a noble woman--a woman who was truly great, for the
reason that she never sought to be so. Because she understood the
sphere in which a woman's work in the world must usually lie, and led
her life truly along the lines that God had laid down for her;
because she suffered bravely, forgot herself for others, and remained
faithful to her noble ideals, she ruled as a queen amongst those with
whom her life was cast. Her influence was great and far-reaching, but
she herself was the last to suspect it, the last to desire it, and
that was perhaps the secret of its greatness. The type is rare at the
present day, but, thank God! there are Monicas still in the world. If
there were more, the world would be a better place.

CHAPTER I
HOW ST. MONICA WAS BROUGHT UP BY CHRISTIAN PARENTS IN THE CITY OF
TAGASTE
On the sunny northern coast of Africa in the country which we now
call Algeria stood, in the early days of Christianity, a city called
Tagaste. Not far distant lay the field of Zarna, where the glory of
Hannibal had perished for ever. But Rome had long since avenged the
sufferings of her bitter struggle with Carthage. It was the ambition
of Roman Africa, as the new colony had been called by its conquerors,