Conference from
1st Friday May 2012
In the early Church, widowhood was considered a special vocation for women.  Widows would dedicate themselves to the care of the church and looked to St. Monica as their special patron.  The tears of St. Monica merited the conversion of her son, who left behind his dissolute life and became one of the greatest theologians and philosophers of the Church.  St. Monica came from a Christian family in Northern Africa.  As a young woman she was inclined to drink excessively.  When this vice was discovered, in her shame, St. Monica vowed to never drink wine again and kept that promise for the rest of her life.

When the force of the human will is aided by divine assistance it is truly astounding what can be accomplished.  If we want something enough, we do what is necessary to get it, but if we don’t want to do it, the least excuse will prevent us from trying.  If we are forgetful of self, focused on our duty, and rely on divine assistance, we will overcome the greatest obstacles.
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