Saint Monica, Widow, A.D. 387
by VP
Posted on Monday May 04, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"ST. MONICA was mother of the great St. Augustin. Seeing him unhappily fallen into the heresy of the Manichees, she ceased not by continual prayers and tears to solicit heaven in behalf of her son, that he might return to the truth. For this end she followed him to Milan; where by the means of St. Ambrose he was delivered from his errors, and prepared for becoming a great light in Christ's Church. Give thanks for this mercy shown to both mother and son; and beseech God to inspire all parents with this charity in all the misconduct and errors of their children. To importune heaven by prayers, tears, and alms, is the most assured way of obliging the Father of mercy to their assistance, from whom alone their help must come. They may justly hope that the children of constant and fervent prayer will never perish. Therefore as those parents, who are unconcerned at the disorderly conduct of their children, show neither compassion, nor a due sense of eternity; so all those who follow St. Monica's steps, in sparing no pains, nor omitting any occasion likely to contribute to their children's good, have this certain comfort, that their labour will not be lost. If it has not the effect which they desire, still it will be the increase of their own crown.
One constant practice of St. Monica, was to assist daily at the altar of God; from whence she knew that that victim was dispensed, by which was cancelled the hand-writing against us. In this, and other holy exercises of piety and charity, she spent the years of her widowhood; and at length, on her return to Africa, she was seized with a violent fever, and departed to heaven in the year 389. Pray for all widows, that they may be constant in all the exercises of religion, and especially in that of assisting daily, if in their power, before the altar of God, at Mass. Whatever your condition be, follow the example of so
great a saint: see that sloth and vain pretexts be not your hindrance,
and heartily lament all past neglects. Be careful not to lose this day
at least: beg grace to be delivered from all disorders, and extend your
charity to all in vice or error." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayer:
"From the eternal home where you are now happy with this son of yours who owes to you his life both of Earth and Heaven, cast a loving look, O Monica, on the many Christian mothers who are now fulfilling on Earth the hard but noble mission which was once yours. Their children are also dead with the death of sin, and they would restore them to true life by the power of their maternal love. After the Mother of Jesus, it is to you that they turn, O Monica, you whose prayers and tears were once so efficacious and so fruitful. Take their cause in hand. Your tender and devoted heart cannot fail to compassionate them in the anguish which was once your own. Keep up their courage. Teach them to hope. The conversion of these dear ones is to cost them many a sacrifice. Get them the generosity and fortitude needed for their paying the price thus asked of them by God. Let them remember that the conversion of a soul is a greater miracle than the raising a dead man to life, and that Divine Justice demands a compensation which they, the mothers of these children, must be ready to make. This spirit of sacrifice will destroy that hidden egotism which is but too frequently mingled with what seems to be affection of the purest kind.
Let them ask themselves, if they would rejoice, as you did, O Monica, at finding that a vocation to the religious life were the result of the conversion they have so much at heart? If they are thus disinterested, let them not fear. Their prayers and sufferings must be efficacious. Sooner or later the wished-for grace will descend upon the prodigal, and he will return to God and his mother." Source: In Lumine Fidei: Dom Prosper Gueranger
Dear Father: What explanation can be given to the question: when a person has been thoroughly educated in the Catholic Faith, having had great care bestowed on his training, but who when he reaches manhood falls away from the Church and says he does not believe in the religion of his childhood?
Answer: The general reply is that faith is a gift of God whereby we trust God and all that He says simply because He says it, and that a person loses this trust in God because of his faithlessness in God's grace. Education and training - the very best education and training - are after all only a means - a great means, but after all only a means - to strengthen this trust in God and what He says, and after it is all done, a person may and sometimes does through faithlessness to God's grace fall - that is, lose this belief in God and God's words. No man ever loses faith in God or the Catholic Church except by his own fault. The fault may be hidden. It may be pride, especially of intellect; it may be wilful trifling with temptations against faith, it may be a loss of grace through immoral life, or it may be a neglect of the means of grace, the sacraments, etc.
But in every particular case, if the truth can be reached, it will be found to be faithlessness to God's grace. Neither any amount of education nor training nor anything else can save a man against his own will, nor cause him to retain Catholic faith if he is untrue to God's grace. Such persons as our correspondent speaks of are usually led away form the Church by pride or baneful associations of one kind or another, terminating in faithlessness to the graces of faith. They often yield to these influences for a time and then return to God and the Church. Let our correspondent pray, as St. Monica prayed for St. Augustine, and the same God who listened to Monica's prayers will not fail our correspondent.
Source: Truth Magazine.
Lord have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Holy Mary, conceived without stain of original sin, Pray for us and for our children
Holy Mary, glorious Mother of Jesus Christ, pray for us and for our children
St. Monica, pray for us and for our children
Model of wives, pray for us and for our children
You who converted your unbelieving husband, pray for us and for our children
Mother of St. Augustine, pray for us and for our children
Strict and prudent teacher, guardian of your son in all his ways, pray for us and for our children
You who carefully watched over his conduct, pray for us and for our children
You who were sorely distressed at his erring from the right, pray for us and for our children
You who were untiring in your petitions for his soul's safety, pray for us and for our children
You who still hoped on amid the bitterness of your heart and your flood of tears, pray for us and for our children
You who were filled with consolation upon his return to God, pray for us and for our children
You who died calmly after faithfully fulfilling your duties, pray for us and for our children
You who are the prayerful intercessor of all mothers who pray and weep as you did, pray for us and for our children
Preserve the innocence of our children, we beseech you, St. Monica
Protect them against the deceits of evil men, we beseech you, St. Monica
Protect them from the dangers of bad example, we beseech you, St. Monica
Watch over the movements of grace in their hearts, we beseech you, St. Monica
Let the Christian virtues strike deep root in their hearts and bear much fruit, we beseech you, St. Monica
Redouble your intercession for youth approaching manhood, we beseech you, St. Monica
Obtain for all in mortal sin true contrition and perfect conversion, we beseech you, St. Monica
Obtain for all mothers to fulfill their duties steadily and perseveringly, we beseech you, St. Monica
Commend all mothers to the protection of the every-blessed Virgin Mother of Our Lord, we beseech you, St. Monica
Favorably incline the heart of your beloved son Augustine to the salvation of our children.
St. Augustine, holy son of a saintly other, prayer for us and for our children
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us , O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord!
v. Pray for us, O holy St. Monica
R. that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O holy Monica, by your patience and prayers you obtained from God the conversion of your husband and the grace to live in peace with him; obtain for us, we beseech you, the blessing of Almighty God, so that true harmony and peace may reign also in our homes, and that all the members of our families may attain eternal life. Amen.
O Holy Monica, by your burning tears and unceasing prayers you saved your son from eternal damnation. Obtain for us the grace ever to comprehend what is most conducive to the salvation of our children so that we may effectively restrain them from sin and lead them by virtue and piety to Heaven Amen.
Source: Saint Monica: Model of Christian Mothers By F. A. Forbes. Litany added by the Editor TAN
St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church, A.D. 373.
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 02, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
Saint Athanasius. By Francesco Bartolozzi after Domenichino.
"ST. ATHANASIUS governed the Church of Alexandria fortysix years, eminent for sanctity, and for his zeal in defence of the Catholic faith. Pray for all the prelates of Christ's Church, that in virtue and zeal they may follow the steps of this holy bishop, and not let vice or errors grow up, through their neglect. Pray likewise for that unhappy people of Alexandria, who having renounced their faith in Christ, have for so many ages been disciples of Mahomet. Pray for all Christian nations, that they may not draw down the like judgment on their heads, by their wickedness, and have their contempt of God's law punished with a general blindness.
St. Athanasius suffered the persecution of many years from the malice of the Arians, by whose false accusations he was often forced into banishment, and obliged to the confinement of caves for shelter against their wicked designs. It is almost impossible to conceive the storms that were raised against him, and with how many calamities he was oppressed: and it is difficult to apprehend that great constancy and truly Christian courage, with which he stood out to the end under such variety of evils; over all which he triumphed by zeal and patience, and at length ended his days in peace, dying in his bed at Alexandria, in the year 373, under the Emperor Valens.
Pray for a like courage under all trials; and remember that virtue is no security against persecution. Happy are you, if you have no other persecutions, but what virtue draws upon you. If you desire to be proof against the greatest storms, practice your courage in those lesser ones which daily happen. See that ordinary contradictions destroy not your inward peace, nor put you on making complaints, or unnecessary apologies in your own defence, much less on engaging in contentions on this account. It is much better to be unconcerned at these petty oppositions, than solicitous about them; for such solicitude is but the argument of your impatience and self-love. Thus prepare for greater trials, and call in God to your assistance." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Letter 19: "6. Like these too, are the heretics, who, having fallen from true discernment, dare to invent to themselves atheism. "For the fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings." Of such as are fools in their thoughts, the actions are wicked, as He says, "can you, being evil, speak good things (Matthew 12:34);" for they were evil, because they thought wickedness. Or how can those do just acts, whose minds are set upon fraud? Or how shall he love, who is prepared beforehand to hate? How shall he be merciful, who is bent upon the love of money? How shall he be chaste, who looks upon a woman to lust after her? "For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, fornications, adulteries, murders. "By them the fool is wrecked, as by the waves of the sea, being led away and enticed by his fleshly pleasures; for this stands written, "'All flesh of fools is greatly tempest-tossed." While he associates with folly, he is tossed by a tempest, and perishes, as Solomon says in the Proverbs, "The fool and he who lacks understanding shall perish together, and shall leave their wealth to strangers." Now they suffer such things, because there is not among them one sound of mind to guide them. For where there is sagacity, there the Word, who is the Pilot of souls, is with the vessel; "for he that has understanding shall possess guidance ;" but they who are without guidance fall like the leaves. Who has so completely fallen away as Hymenæus and Philetus, who held evil opinions respecting the resurrection, and concerning faith in it suffered shipwreck? And Judas being a traitor, fell away from the Pilot, and perished with the Jews. But the disciples since they were wise, and therefore remained with the Lord, although the sea was agitated, and the ship covered with the waves, for there was a storm, and the wind was contrary, yet fell not away. For they awoke the Word, Who was sailing with them , and immediately the sea became smooth at the command of its Lord, and they were saved. They became preachers and teachers at the same time; relating the miracles of our Saviour, and teaching us also to imitate their example. These things were written on our account and for our profit, so that through these signs we may acknowledge the Lord Who wrought them." Source: New Advent, Letter 19, St. Athanasius
THE SYMBOL, or Creed of St. Athanasius:
WHOSOEVER will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith, except everyone shall have kept whole and inviolate, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.
Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is one: the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Ghost uncreated.
The Father is incomprehensible, the Son is incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost is incomprehensible. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy
Ghost is eternal.
And yet they are not three Eternals, but One Eternal.
As neither are there three Uncreated, nor three Incomprehensibles; but One Uncreated, and One Incomprehensible.
In like manner the Father is Almighty, the Son is Almighty, and the Holy Ghost is Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three Gods, but One God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord; and yet they are not three Lords, but One Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every Person severally to be God and Lord:
So we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of no one, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, not made, nor created, nor begotten, but Proceeding.
So there is One Father, not three Fathers; One Son, not three Sons; and One Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less; but the whole three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation, that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, the right faith is, that we believe and confess : that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and Man.
He is God of the substance of His Father, begotten before the world; and He is Man of the substance of His Mother, born in the world:
Perfect God and Perfect Man; subsisting of a rational soul and human flesh
Equal to the Father according to his Godhead; and less than the Father according to his Manhood.
Who, although He be both God and man, yet He is not two, but One Christ.
One, not by the conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by the taking of the manhood into God.
One altogether, not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.
For as the rational soul and the body is one man, so God and Man is One Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead;
He ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life
everlasting ting; but they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, which, except everyone shall have firmly and faithfully believed, he cannot be saved.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
The Augustinian Prayer Manual, 1882, p 321
Saint Peregrine of Laziosi, Servite (1265-1345)
by VP
Posted on Friday May 01, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. Peregrine by Giacomo Zampa
"St. Peregrine Laziosi was born at Forli, on the first of May, 1265. In his youth he proved a noble and valiant knight, but a fierce enemy of the Church and the Pope. As his townsmen rebelled against the Pope, he became one of the boldest leaders of the revolution. But the Blessed Virgin to whom, notwithstanding his evil-doing, he had ever preserved a special devotion, watched over him.
It happened that St. Philip Benizi, the fifth General of the Order of the Servants of Mary, came to Forli at the command of the Sovereign Pontiff, to bring back that city to the obedience of the Holy See. But this dutiful son of the Church was cruelly treated by the rebels. Peregrine, more daring than the rest, not only insulted St. Philip, but even went so far as to strike him. But this great Saint meekly bore the injury and, in imitation of St. Stephen the first holy martyr, prayed fervently for his persecutors.
At the sight of so genuine a humility and charity, Peregrine, overcome with grief, ran in search of the Saint whom he had offended and humbly asked his pardon. St. Philip received the lowly penitent and assured him of pardon. He then exhorted him to change his life and to place himself under the protection of the most holy Mother of God, the better to carry out his good resolutions.
Henceforth Peregrine was changed into another man; but as he did not know what state of life he ought to embrace, he prayed fervently to Our Lady that she would herself deign to direct his steps in the way that God willed. The divine Mother heard his entreaties, and one day, as he was praying before her statue, she said to him: "Go to Siena to my Servants and there thou shalt find the way of salvation." Peregrine obeyed and, going out of the city, he found a young man dressed as a traveler, who offered himself as guide. When they arrived in Siena at the door of the Servite monastery, the young man suddenly disappeared, and Peregrine knew that he was an angel sent to guide him on his way.
The penitent received the Servite habit from the hand of St. Philip himself. Together with this outward habit, he also appeared clothed with the spirit of religious perfection. So great was his penance, that for thirty years he was not seen to sit down. His patience also in bearing infirmities was truly extraordinary, so that never a word of complaint was heard to come from his lips. Finally he died full of merits on the first of May, 1345, at the advanced age of eighty years." The Fairest Flower of Paradise: Considerations on the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Abbé Alexis Henri Marie Lépicier 1922
From the Breviary
GREAT the virtues which he showed,
He whose brow with glory glowed
When God's Mother gave him grace
'Mid her own to find his place.
To the Cross he firmly clung,
Wept the wounds that Jesus wrung;
Mary's sorrows fired his heart
Till he shared her bitter smart.
Herald he of words that win
Hardened sinners back from sin;
Robber bands he drew by love,
Suppliants of Heaven above.
Did the poor his bounty crave?
Largess beyond hope he gave ;
For as once at Jesus' touch
Scanty food was turned to much.
He, whatever pains oppressed,
Never laid him down to rest;
Standing, fasting, worked for God,
Bruised his body with the rod.
When his limb in peril stood,
Christ in pity from the Rood
Reached His hand, and all the wound
Healed, the flesh grew sweet and sound.
Glory, laud, and honour be
To Three in One and One in Three :
May His Servant aid to bring
Us to heaven to see the King.
