(322-387) Monica was a reformed alcoholic from Tagaste, Roman North Africa. She was married to an abusive, unfaithful, alcoholic husband and had a pagan son. A spiritual student of Saint Ambrose, she prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband and son. Both of them eventually converted, and her son became one of the greatest theologians ever, Saint Augustine. Most of the information we have about her comes from Saint Augustine’s Confessions.

Saint Augustine describes Saint Monica’s struggle with alcohol and subsequent renunciation of it in his book Confessions: “And so unto that little, adding daily littles (for he that despises small things shall fall little by little), she contracted such a habit as, to drink off eagerly her little cup nearly full of wine.” Many addictions and unhealthy attachments start off simple enough, almost innocently. But the truth is, as a common 12-step slogan puts it, “one is too many and a thousand is never enough.” Are you giving in to something that, while seemingly minor in and of itself, is opening the door to relapse or sin?

“And You sent Your hand from above, and drew my soul out of that profound darkness, when my mother, Your faithful one, wept to you on my behalf more than mothers are wont to weep the bodily death of their children” (Saint Augustine, Confessions).

Reflection by Brad Farmer