Many Years, Countless Tears… But Joy Comes With The Morning.

Tapestry of Saint Monica of Hippo, by John Nava (b.1947).

For many, many years Saint Monica of Hippo wept during her ceaselessly tireless prayers for her husband Patricius – a pagan whom lived in her hometown of Tagast in North Africa, to whom her parents gave her in marriage, even though she was a Christian – their son Augustine, and her mother-in-law who lived with them, to become Christians. Patricius was known for his violent temper and licentiousness, while Monica’s mother-in-law was similarly ornery and cantankerous. Her dedication and devotion to

All At Once

When a dispute arose about who was to be the new bishop of Milan, Ambrose (c. 339-397) stepped in to try to mediate the dispute. Ambrose is also remembered as

Eyes On The Prize

According to Saint Augustine, the word angel (from the Greek angelos — “messenger”) is basically a job description — that is, angels serve as messengers of God’s purposes. They are reliable, says Jesus, because they “always behold the face of my father in heaven.” We can trust such messengers because they do not lose sight of God. Today we celebrate the feast of three archangels — Michael, who spoke regularly to the prophets; Gabriel, who announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus; and Raphael, whose name means “God has healed.” Let’s learn from them to keep our eyes on God.

Restless Hearts

The earliest known portrait of St. Augustine, from about a century after his death.

While some famous people may have amazing rags-to-riches stories to tell, the drama that launched Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) to greatness went from reprobate to repentant. Born in Thagaste, Numidia, which is modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria, Africa, to an African father, and mother – both whom are thought to have been Berbers, an indigenous North African ethnic group – Augustine was a brilliant young man who

Be Enlightened By The Darkness

Saint Bonaventure had the “good fortune,” as his name means, of knowing other saints in his lifetime. His parents Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritella named him Giovanni di Fidanza, bit legend has it that he was given his name Bonaventure by Saint Francis of Assisi, whose Franciscan order Bonaventure joined.

After making his vows, he was sent to complete his studies in Paris. While there, he became good friends with Saint Thomas Aquinas, with whom he received the degree of Doctor, and developed a friendship with Saint Louis, King of France.

Saint Bonaventure is known for his leadership of the Franciscans and his significant intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy. St. Bonaventure also wrote numerous mystical and ascetical treatises, perhaps most famously, “The Soul’s Journey into God.”

In 1273, he was appointed by